Human endometrial stem cell neurogenesis in response to NGF and bFGF

Cell Biol Int. 2012 Oct 1;36(10):961-6. doi: 10.1042/CBI20110610.

Abstract

The potential of cell therapy is promising in nerve regeneration, but is limited by ethical considerations about the proper and technically safe source of stem cells. We report the successful differentiation of human EnSCs (endometrial stem cells) as a rich source of renewable and safe progenitors into high-efficiency cholinergic neurons. The extracellular signals of NGF (nerve growth factor) and bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) could induce cholinergic neuron differentiation. ChAT (choline acetyltransferase), MAP2 (microtubule associated protein 2) and NF-l (neurofilament L) increased after administration of bFGF and NGF to the EnSC cultures. trkC and FGFR2 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 2), which belong to the NGF and bFGF receptors respectively, were determined in populations of EnSCs. NGF, bFGF and their combination differentially influenced human EnSCs high efficiency differentiation. By inducing cholinergic neurons from EnSCs in a chemically defined medium, we could produce human neural cells without resorting to primary culture of neurons. This in vitro method provides an unlimited source of human neural cells and facilitates clinical applications of EnSCs for neurological diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD146 Antigen / analysis
  • Cell Separation
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase / analysis
  • Endometrium / cytology*
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / analysis
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Neurofilament Proteins / analysis
  • Neurogenesis*
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / analysis
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Thy-1 Antigens / analysis
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis

Substances

  • CD146 Antigen
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Neurofilament Proteins
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • Thy-1 Antigens
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • neurofilament protein L
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase