Differentiation of Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Neuron-Like Cells Using Activin a and Nicotinamide

Umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are one of the best sources for cell-based therapies. MSCs reveal the neuronal morphology and expression of neuronal marker in differentiation conditions. The aim of the present study was to differentiate of MSCs into neuron-like cells using Activin A and nicotinamide.
Umbilical cords were cut close to the placenta and smaller pieces (2-4 cm) of umbilical cords prepared and Wharton's jelly extracted. MSCs were isolated by an explant culture method and surface phenotype of cells analyzed by Dako flow cytometry and the FlowJo software. MSCs were then induced for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. Cells were exposed to neuronal differentiation condition and treated with 20 μg / ml Activin A and 0.1% FBS for 3 days in RPMI,then with 10 mMnicotinamide, 2% B27 and 0.1% FBS for 7 days.
spindle-shaped MSCs were observed after 7-10 days of explants culture. Immunophenotype of cultured MSCs were positive for mesenchymal markers such as CD105 and CD90 but negative for hematopoietic markers such as CD34 and CD45. After MSCs differentiation to the osteogenic or adipogenic lineage, lipid droplets and calcium deposition were observed. The differentiated neural-like MSCs were appeared as pyramidal nerve-like cells with neuritis.
Some of th cells. During neuronal differentiation, axon and dendritic like process wereosbserved in some of Bipolar and mulipolarmulipolar cells. Furthermore direct synaptic like contacts were observed between cells.
The present study showed that Activin A and nicotinamide could induce differentiation of MSCs into neural lineage.