Neurotrophic factor mediated neuronal differentiation of human cord blood mesenchymal stem cells and their applicability to assess the developmental neurotoxicity

Plasticity and developmental capacity of stem cells have now been established as a promising tool to restore the degenerative disorders. The linearity differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into adipogenic, chondrogenic, osteogenic and even in neuronal subtypes has been demonstrated. The number of xenobiotics such as dexamethasone, insulin, isobutyl 1-methyle xanthine and retinoic acid has been reported for the potential to differentiate hMSCs into neuronal subtypes. But, the applicability of indigenous neurotrophic factor-nerve growth factor (NGF) has not been explored for the purpose. Thus, the present investigations were carried out to study the NGF induced neuronal differentiation of hMSCs. Following the isolation, purification and characterization of hMSCs were allowed to differentiate into neuronal subtypes under the influence of NGF (50 ng/mL). At various concentrations of NGF, the neuronal makers were analysed at both mRNA and protein levels. Cells, exposed with NGF were showing the significant and gradual increase in the neuronal markers in differentiating cells. The magnitude of expression of markers was maximum at day 4 of differentiation. NGF at 50 ng/mL concentration was found to induce neuronal differentiation of hMSCs into neuronal subtypes.