Differentiation Potential of Human Chorion-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Motor Neuron-Like Cells in Two- and Three-Dimensional Culture Systems

• Published in: Molecular neurobiology 2016-04, Vol.53 (3), p.1862-1872
• Main Authors: Faghihi, Faezeh, Mirzaei, Esmaeil, Ai, Jafar, Lotfi, Abolfazl, Sayahpour, Forough Azam, Barough, Somayeh Ebrahimi, Joghataei, Mohammad Taghi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cell Biology; Cell culture; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Lineage - drug effects; Cell Separation; Cell Shape - drug effects; Chorion - cytology; Collagen; Gelatin - pharmacology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - drug effects; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - ultrastructure; Mesoderm - cytology; Motor Neurons - cytology; Motor Neurons - drug effects; Motor Neurons - metabolism; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurons; Neurosciences; Phenotype; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Stem cells; Tissue engineering; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry
• ISSN: 0893-7648; 1559-1182
• DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9129-y

Many people worldwide suffer from motor neuron-related disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. Recently, several attempts have been made to recruit stem cells to modulate disease progression in ALS and also regenerate spinal cord injuries. Chorion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (C-MSCs), used to be discarded as postpartum medically waste product, currently represent a class of cells with self renewal property and immunomodulatory capacity. These cells are able to differentiate into mesodermal and nonmesodermal lineages such as neural cells. On the other hand, gelatin, as a simply denatured collagen, is a suitable substrate for cell adhesion and differentiation. It has been shown that electrospinning of scaffolds into fibrous structure better resembles the physiological microenvironment in comparison with two-dimensional (2D) culture system. Since there is no report on potential of human chorion-derived MSCs to differentiate into motor neuron cells in two- and three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, we set out to determine the effect of retinoic acid (RA) and sonic hedgehog (Shh) on differentiation of human C-MSCs into motor neuron-like cells cultured on tissue culture plates (2D) and electrospun nanofibrous gelatin scaffold (3D).