Thrombospondin 1 promotes synaptic formation in bone marrow-derived neuron-like cells

• Published in: Neural regeneration research 2013-04, Vol.8 (10), p.869-881
• Main Authors: Huang, Yun, Lu, Mingnan, Guo, Weitao, Zeng, Rong, Wang, Bin, Wang, Huaibo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone marrow; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell differentiation; Chondroitin sulfate; Epidermal growth factor; Fibroblasts; Gene therapy; Genetic aspects; Growth factors; Morphology; Nervous system; Neurogenesis; Neurological disorders; Neurons; Neurosciences; Properties; Proteins; Research and Report : Optic Nerve Injury and Neuroregeneration; Spinal cord injuries; Stem cells; Synapses; 反应; 神经元样细胞; 突触形成; 细胞形态; 蛋白; 血小板; 骨髓间充质干细胞; 骨髓间质干细胞
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.10.001

In this study, a combination of growth factors was used to induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into neuron-like cells, in a broader attempt to observe the role of thrombospondin 1 in synapse formation. Results showed that there was no significant difference in the differentiation rate of neuron-like cells between bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with thrombospondin induction and those without. However, the cell shape was more complex and the neurites were dendritic, with unipolar, bipolar or multipolar morphologies, after induction with thrombospondin 1. The induced cells were similar in morphology to normal neurites. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of positive cells for postsynaptic density protein 95 and synaptophysin 1 protein was significantly increased after induction with thrombospondin 1. These findings indicate that thrombospondin 1 promotes synapse formation in neuron-like cells that are differentiated from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.