DIFFERENTIATION OF HUMAN OVARIAN FOLLICULAR GRANULOSA CELLS INTO KERATINOCYTES

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells and are found in different tissues. These cells have capacity of self-renewal and differentiation into other lineages. Granulosa cells (GCs) are the multipotent stem cells. In the present research we evaluated the differentiation potential of GCs into keratinocytes.

GCs were cultured after enzymatic isolation from ovarian follicle. Then, keratinocyte inductive medium was added and expression of keratin10 and keratin14 were investigated with western blotting technique.

The results of the flow cytometric analysis of the isolated cells indicated the high expression of mesenchymal stem cell specific antigens (p < 0.05). Also, the results of the western blotting showed the expression of creatine 10 and creatine 14 proteins in all groups except for negative control (p< 0.05).

Human granulosa cells have a very high ability to differentiate into keratinocytic cells, and with further research, it is possible to provide a suitable substrate for the use of human granulosa cells to treat severe skin lesions.