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Effects of environmental chemicals on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells
Author(s) -
Huang Min,
Li Yingying,
Wu Kexin,
Hao Shaowen,
Cai Qian,
Zhou Zhijun,
Yang Huifang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/tox.22829
Subject(s) - neural stem cell , apoptosis , cell growth , progenitor cell , paraquat , sox2 , stem cell , biology , flow cytometry , microbiology and biotechnology , cellular differentiation , chemistry , transcription factor , biochemistry , gene
Abstract The objective of the present study was to explore the effects of environmental chemicals, such as methyl mercury, paraquat, and bisphenol A, on cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as the expression levels of neuronal differentiation‐related genes in neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs originated from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB‐NSCs) were used as cell models in the current study. CCK‐8 and flow cytometry experiments were performed to assess the effects of methyl mercury, paraquat, and bisphenol A on the proliferation and apoptosis of HUCB‐NSCs at different processes, including proliferation and differentiation stages. The expressions of neuronal differentiation‐related genes were determined by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The results showed that methyl mercury, paraquat, and bisphenol A treatments significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in HUCB‐NSCs, as well as decreased the expressions of Oct4, Gdf3, and Sox1, whereas increased Pax6 and Ngn1 expressions at both mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that environmental chemicals can impair the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs, which may cause abnormal development of the nervous system.