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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
Integrin α5β1 Mediated Cellular Reorganization in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells During Neuronal Differentiation
Nihal Karakaş1,2, Ülkan Kiliç3
1Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey; nkarakas@medipol.edu.tr.
Background/Aim:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely used for yielding neurons in culture to study nervous system pathologies and develop regenerative approaches. In this study, cellular rearrangements of human MSCs related to the expression of the fibronectin common receptor integrin α5β1 and its cell surface localization during neuronal differentiation, were examined.
Materials And Methods:
Proliferation kinetics of neuronal induced hMSCs (hMd-Neurons) were quantified by BrdU assay, and hMd-Neurons were immunostained for neuronal marker expression. Additionally, cDNA and protein samples were collected at different time points for integrin α5β1 expression analysis.
Results:
Endogenous integrin α5β1 expression was significantly upregulated by day 6 and maintained until day 12. Cell surface localization of α5β1 integrin was increased by day 6; the integrin was internalized into the cytosol by day 12.
Conclusion:
Integrin dynamics around day 6 of differentiation might be involved in neuronal differentiation and maturation or specification of hMd-Neurons.
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