Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into neuron-like cells in vitro / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells in new environment after transplantation, and then to replace damaged cells for reconstructing neural circuit. OBJECTIVE: To establish the co-culture system between rat BMSCs and neural cells in vitro, and to study the influence of neural cells on the differentiation of BMSCs into neuron-like cells in the co-culture system. METHODS: The neural cells obtained from Wistar rat fetal brain tissue and BMSCs gained from rat thighbone were co-cultured in Transwell culture plate. The morphological changes of BMSCs were observed and the special markers of neural cells in BMSCs were examined by immunofluorescence on the fifth day of the co-culture. The results were compared with control group which where BMSCs were alone cultured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: BMSCs in the neural cells co-culture system extended, were radial, connected each other. Neuron specific enolase immunoreactions showed positive results, showing neuron-like cells. The positive ratio of neuron specific enolase-positive cells was (33.0±10.5)%. However, BMSCs in the control group did not express neuron morphological character. Immunofluorescence exhibited that cells were negative for neuron specific enolase. These indicate that microenvironment provided by neurons improves the differentiation of BMSCs into neuron-like cells.