背景与目的:探讨人骨髓间充质干细胞(human mesenchymal stem cells, hMSCs)在体内向神经细胞分化的可能性。材料与方法:将标记绿色荧光蛋白的人骨髓间充质干细胞植入到新生3d的小鼠侧脑室中,分别于移植后0d,9d和14d处死受体鼠,取其脑组织,4%多聚甲醛固定后行冠状面冰冻切片,荧光显微镜下观察hMSCs的植入,激光共聚焦显微镜检测植入细胞神经特异性蛋白的表达,定位双重标记的植入细胞。结果:受体小鼠脑中均可检出植入的细胞,此类细胞表达神经元细胞特异的微管相关蛋白β-Ⅲ-Tubulin(Tuj1)、微管相关蛋白2(MAP2),一些细胞表达神经胶质细胞特异的胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)。结论:hMSCs植入后受到脑组织特定微环境的影响,在体内可以向神经细胞分化并参与到发育的神经系统中。
BACKGROUND & AIM:To explore the possibility of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) differentiating into neural cells in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: hMSCs labeled with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were transplanted into the lateral ventricle of neonatal mouse brain. At 0, 9 and 14 days post-transplantation, mice were sacrificed and their brains were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde. The engraftment of transplanted cells in coronal section of the recipient mouse brain was examined under a fluorescent microscope. Indirected immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expression of neural proteins of these grafted cells, RESULTS: Examination of cryostat section under fluorescent microscopy revealed that hMSCs could engraft into neonatal mouse brain. Neuronal differentiation was confirmed by the expression of β-Ⅲ-Tubulin (Tujl) and MAP2 of these EGFP-expressing cells, whilst some grafted cells had GFAP staining. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that hMSCs could respond to brain microenvironment and differentiate into neural cells.