부산대학교 도서관

BACKGROUND:: It has been demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can induce stem cell differentiation into neuron-like cells. OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the efficacy of TGF-β and BDNF at inducing the differentiation of adult rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into neuron-like cells, both in combination or alone. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING:: A comparative observation experiment was performed at the Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University between October 2007 and January 2008. MATERIALS:: TGF-β and BDNF were purchased from Sigma, USA; mouse anti-rat neuron specific enolase, neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic protein were purchased from Beijing HMHL Biochem Ltd., China. METHODS:: BMSCs were isolated from rats aged 4 weeks and incubated with TGF-β (1 μ g/L) and/or BDNF (50 μ g/mL). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Expression of neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic protein were determined by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS:: BMSCs differentiated into neuron-like cells following induction of TGF-β and BDNF, and expressed both neuron-specific enolase and neurofilament. The percent of positive cells was significantly greater in the combination group than those induced with TGF-β or BDNF alone (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION:: Treatment of BMSCs with a combination of TGF-β and BDNF induced differentiation into neuron-like cells, with the induction being significantly greater than with TGF-β or BDNF alone.