The study of neurotrophic factor genes expression of human adipose stem cells cultured in serum-containing and serum-free media

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is immunogenic for human and may transmit infection in the case of transplantation. So, this study aimed to compare the proliferation and survival rates of human adipose stem cells (hASCs), and their neurotropic factor genes expression in serum-containing and serum-free media.
In this experimental study, stem cells were extracted from the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of 15 cesarean women and cultured in α-MEM containing 10% of FBS or serum-free medium. The stemness of fourth passage of the cells was confirmed using the flow cytometry method, and their differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes was also confirmed. Cell proliferation and survival were assessed using hemocytometry and MTT [3- (4,5-Dimethyltiazol-2-yl) -2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium bromide] methods, respectively. In addition, the expression of neurotrophic factor genes was analyzed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction method.
The cells had positive response to CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105 markers, while they responded negatively to CD34 and CD45 markers and had the ability to differentiate into adipocytes and osteocytes. The survival and proliferation of the cells cultured in the serum-based medium for 48 hours were significantly increased compared to those cultured in the serum-free medium. Moreover, serum resulted in a significant increase in BDNF and NT-3 genes expression, compared to the cells cultured in the serum-free medium.
More suitable cells can be provided for transplantation with serum deletion and culture medium optimization. The results can be matched to find an appropriate replacement for FBS.