Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In vivo and vitro studies have confirmed that the ratio of differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) into neurons was obviously lower compared with glial cells. Moreover, these neurons will gradually die. Finally, the number of neurons in living cells is low.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential of hBMSCs differentiation into dopaminergic neuron-like cells in vitro. 
METHODS: The hBMSCs were isolated, purified and amplified. After pretreatment with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in vitro, the hBMSCs were cultured at the medium containing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and Angiotensin II (AngⅡ) to induce hBMSCs differentiation into neurons and dopaminergic neurons. Changes in cell morphology were observed during differentiation. Marker expression of neurons and dopaminergic neurons were detected by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Following induction, hBMSCs presented dipolar, multipolar and pyramidal typical neuron morphology, significantly expressed anti-human nerve nestin [(55.7±4.3)%] and neuron specific enolase [(78.2±6.7)%]. Moreover, a majority of hBMSCs expressed tyrosine hydroxylase [(48.5±5.6)%], but did not express glial fibrillary acidic protein. These indicated that under suitable conditions, hBMSCs can differentiate into neurons and dopaminergic neuron-like cells.