Abstract
BackgroundTargeted differentiation of stem cells is mainly achieved by the sequential administration of defined growth factors and cytokines, although these approaches are quite artificial, cost-intensive and time-consuming. We now present a simple xenogeneic rat brain co-culture system which supports neuronal differentiation of adult human stem cells under more in vivo-like conditions.Methods and FindingsThis system was applied to well-characterized stem cell populations isolated from human skin, parotid gland and pancreas. In addition to general multi-lineage differentiation potential, these cells tend to differentiate spontaneously into neuronal cell types in vitro and are thus ideal candidates for the introduced co-culture system. Consequently, after two days of co-culture up to 12% of the cells showed neuronal morphology and expressed corresponding markers on the mRNA and protein level. Additionally, growth factors with the ability to induce neuronal differentiation in stem cells could be found in the media supernatants of the co-cultures.ConclusionsThe co-culture system described here is suitable for testing neuronal differentiation capability of numerous types of stem cells. Especially in the case of human cells, it may be of clinical relevance for future cell-based therapeutic applications.
Highlights
The prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, brain and spinal cord injury as well as stroke is increasing
The co-culture system described here is suitable for testing neuronal differentiation capability of numerous types of stem cells
In order to characterize the different populations of PSCs, PDSCs and SDSCs in respect to their stemness and differentiation potential within this system, we investigated specific and wellrecognized neuronal stem cells (SCs) markers and markers of the three germ layers on the mRNA and protein level
Summary
The prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, brain and spinal cord injury as well as stroke is increasing. Apart from medical treatment that can partially relieve symptoms there has been only little progress on regenerative medical therapy approaches of these diseases. In this regard, a cell-replacement therapy can be a promising approach. The use of human ES cells bears beside multiple ethical problems [5], the necessity of advanced cultivation techniques (e.g. feeder layer) [6], as well as the risk of tumorigenicity [7] To avoid these problems, the use of autologous adult stem cells (SCs) would be an appropriate alternative. We present a simple xenogeneic rat brain co-culture system which supports neuronal differentiation of adult human stem cells under more in vivo-like conditions
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