Expression of neural markers in human umbilical cord blood

JR Sanchez-Ramos, S Song, SG Kamath, T Zigova… - Experimental …, 2001 - Elsevier
JR Sanchez-Ramos, S Song, SG Kamath, T Zigova, A Willing, F Cardozo-Pelaez…
Experimental neurology, 2001Elsevier
A population of cells derived from human and rodent bone marrow has been shown by
several groups of investigators to give rise to glia and neuron-like cells. Here we show that
human umbilical cord blood cells treated with retinoic acid (RA) and nerve growth factor
(NGF) exhibited a change in phenotype and expressed molecular markers usually
associated with neurons and glia. Musashi-1 and β-tubulin III, proteins found in early
neuronal development, were expressed in the induced cord blood cells. Other molecules …
A population of cells derived from human and rodent bone marrow has been shown by several groups of investigators to give rise to glia and neuron-like cells. Here we show that human umbilical cord blood cells treated with retinoic acid (RA) and nerve growth factor (NGF) exhibited a change in phenotype and expressed molecular markers usually associated with neurons and glia. Musashi-1 and β-tubulin III, proteins found in early neuronal development, were expressed in the induced cord blood cells. Other molecules associated with neurons in the literature, such as glypican 4 and pleiotrophin mRNA, were detected using DNA microarray analysis and confirmed independently with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and its mRNA were also detected in both the induced and untreated cord blood cells. Umbilical cord blood appears to be more versatile than previously known and may have therapeutic potential for neuronal replacement or gene delivery in neurodegenerative diseases, trauma, and genetic disorders.
Elsevier