Abstract:

 Objective   To explore the potential of human umbilical cord blood derived multipotent stem cells CB-SCs (cord blood stem cells) to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons under the treatment of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Methods   After isolating and culturing CB-SCs from human umbilical cord blood, stem cells were divided into three groups: the inductive group, the neuro-medium control group and the serum-free control group. After 12 days in culture, the morphology of cells was observed and dopamine neuron-associated makers were studied with immunofluorescence tests. Dopamine levels were analyzed by ELISA. Results   With the treatment of ATRA, most of CB-SCs were induced into cells of typical neuronal morphology, with little change in the neuro-medium control group. Cells in the serum-free control group kept proliferating and retained morphological features of CB-SCs. As shown by immunofluorescence tests, nearly half of the cell population in the inductive group exhibited positive expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). By contrast, TH+ cells in the neuromedium control group were only in small numbers. Furthermore, ELISA data established that the dopamine level was significantly higher in the inductive group relative to the neuromedium control group (P<0.001). Conclusion   ATRA can efficiently induce CB-SCs to differentiate into dopamine neurons.

Key words: All-trans retinoic acid; Stem cells; Umbilical cord blood; Dopamine neuron; Parkinson disease