@Article{ecn.2014.0357,
AUTHOR = {Ming Guan, Yaping Xu, Wei Wang, Shan Lin},
TITLE = {Differentiation into neurons of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells},
JOURNAL = {European Cytokine Network},
VOLUME = {25},
YEAR = {2014},
NUMBER = {3},
PAGES = {58--63},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/ECN/v25n3/65559},
ISSN = {1952-4005},
ABSTRACT = {Purpose:It has been reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into neurons as an
effect of adding extraneous factors, such as β-mercaptoethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide and butylated hydroxyanisole.
However, many of these compounds could harm MSCs and the human body, which restricts their application. We
examined whether MSCs could differentiate into neuron-like cells under the influence of natural growth factors,
such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1,
and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3). Methods: MSCs were collected from rat bone marrow using the plastic adherent
selection method, and induced in culture media to which was added different combinations of EGF, bFGF, IGF-1
and NT-3. The shape of the induced cells was observed daily and the differentiated cells were characterized by
immunocytochemistry with neural-specific markers. Result: With bFGF and NT-3 in the medium, the induced cells
became slim, gradually developing protruding processes, with parts of them forming net- or ring-like structures.
Cells with processes showed expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and nestin (NES), which was
enhanced when bFGF and NT-3 were added in combination. However, with IGF-1 added to the medium, there was
no evidence of neurite-like processes or any net- or ring-like structures; the MSCs retained their round or slim
shape. Conclusion: Using natural cytokines in vitro, MSCs successfully differentiated into neuron-like cells. Our
study confirms that bFGF and NT-3 exerts a neural-induction effect on the differentiation of MSCs, but that IGF
has a rather negative effect on this process.},
DOI = {10.1684/ecn.2014.0357}
}