Neuronal cell differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells originating from canine amniotic fluid

Hum Cell. 2014 Apr;27(2):51-8. doi: 10.1007/s13577-013-0080-9. Epub 2013 Oct 29.

Abstract

The amniotic fluid contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and can be readily available for tissue engineering. Regenerative treatments such as tissue engineering, cell therapy, and transplantation show potential in clinical trials of degenerative diseases. Disease presentation and clinical responses in the Canis familiaris not only are physiologically similar to human compared with other traditional mammalian models but is also a suitable model for human diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether canine amniotic-fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (cAF-MSCs) can differentiate into neural precursor cells in vitro when exposed to neural induction reagent. During neural differentiation, cAF-MSCs progressively acquire neuron-like morphology. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of neural-specific genes, such as NEFL, NSE, and TUBB3 (βIII-tubulin) dramatically increased in the differentiated cAF-MSCs after induction. In addition, protein expression levels of nestin, βIII-tubulin, and tyrosine hydroxylase remarkably increased in differentiated cAF-MSCs. This study demonstrates that cAF-MSCs have great potential for neural precursor differentiation in vitro. Therefore, amniotic fluid may be a suitable alternative source of stem cells and can be applied to cell therapy in neurodegenerative diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amniotic Fluid / cytology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation* / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dogs
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Nestin / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / therapy
  • Neurofilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Nestin
  • Neurofilament Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TUBB3 protein, human
  • Tubulin
  • neurofilament protein L
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase