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Updated: May 2, 2026
Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes
Published on: April 12, 2015
[Study on the differentiation of marrow stromal stem cells into neural cells in vitro]
Benhui Zhuo1, Hebi Jiang, Ping Qu
1Children's Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, 400014, PR China. zhuo-yao@sina.com
Objective:
To investigate the neural markers' expression in the differentiation of marrow stromal stem cells (MSCs) into neural cells.
Methods:
Rats MSCs were expanded as undifferentiated cells in vitro for 5 to 7 generations and cultured in a modified neuronal medium (MNM) after 24 hours of all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) pretreatment. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of nestin, neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) at different time points.
Results:
After ATRA and MNM treatment, MSCs progressively assumed neuronal morphological characteristics. Nestin occurred first after 24 hours of ATRA treatment; then NeuN expressed after 2 hours of MNM treatment; the last one was MAP-2 and it was detected after 9 hours of MNM treatment. Other markers continuously expressed except that the expression of nestin peaked after 18 hours of MNM induction and remarkably decreased after 36 hours.
Conclusion:
ATRA and MNM could promote the differentiation of MSCs into neural cells and the expression of neural-specific markers was consistent with current knowledge regarding the time points of markers expression in the neuronal development which provides a good model in vitro for neuronal development research.
