Transdifferentiation of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Dopaminergic Neurons in a Three-Dimensional Culture

Abstract

Introduction: The induction of from human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) toward dopaminergic neurons is a major challenge in tissue engineering and experimental and clinical treatments of various neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease. This study aimed to differentiate HUC-MSCs into dopaminergic neuron-like cells. Methods: After HUC-MSCs isolation and characterizations, they transferred onto matrigel- coated plates and incubated with a cocktail of dopaminergic neuronal differentiation factors. The capacity of differentiation into dopaminergic neuron-like cells in 2D culture and on matrigel was assessed by real-time PCR, immunocytochemistry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Our results showed that the transcript and protein levels of dopaminergic neuronal markers was significantly increased on Matrigel differentiated cells as compared with 2D culture plates. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study suggest that HUC-MSCs can successfully differentiate toward dopaminergic neuron-like cells on Matrigel, having great potentials for the treatment of dopaminergic neuron-related diseases.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation: Neuroprotection and Nerve Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury

“…12,13 MSCs have the capacity for multidirectional differentiation and self-renewal, and they can differentiate into end-stage cells such as lipogenic cells, chondrogenic cells, and neuronal cells in vitro when subjected to various stimulating factors and induction media. [14][15][16] These qualities have caused MSCs to gradually gain attention in the fields of medicine and tissue engineering in recent decades, and numerous experiments have now demonstrated that MSCs are a very promising research area and have extensive research significance for the regeneration of various tissues and cells, such as bone, skin, and nerves. 7,17,18 The emergence and growth of MSCs have greatly aided the search for novel treatments for several disorders.…”