New method to induce neurotrophin gene expression in human adipose-derived stem cells in vitro

Rosemary leaf extract, a well-known medicinal plant, can induce neurotrophin gene expression and proliferation in stem cells. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) with high proliferation and differentiation capacity are easily accessible and can be extracted with the least damage. This study evaluated the effect of rosemary extract (RE) on neurotrophin gene expression at 48 h postinduction in hASCs. hASCs were isolated from healthy female donors, aged 28-35 years, who had undergone abdominal liposuction. Passage-4 stem cells were cultured and treated with different doses of RE (from 30 to 70 µg/ml) containing 40% carnosic acid for 48 h. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to check the expression of neurotrophin genes. The expression of NTF3, NTF4, and nerve growth factor genes in cells treated with 40-60 µg/ml and the expression of GDNF in cells treated with 50-70 µg/ml of RE for 48 h showed a significant increase compared to cells cultured in serum-containing medium. However, different doses of RE showed no effect on brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression in the treated cells. RE (50, 60 µg/ml) leads to an increase of neurotrophin gene expression in hASCs as compared to routine cell culture. Hence, this protocol can be used to prepare ideal cell sources for cell therapy.