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Inhibition of GSK‐3β enhances neural differentiation in unrestricted somatic stem cells
Author(s) -
Dastjerdi Fatemeh Vahid,
Zeynali Bahman,
Tafreshi Azita Parvaneh,
Shahraz Anahita,
Chavoshi Mahin Sadat,
Najafabadi Irandokht Khaki,
Vardanjani Marzieh Mowlavi,
Atashi Amir,
Soleimani Masoud
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1042/cbi20110541
Subject(s) - wnt signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , neural stem cell , embryonic stem cell , catenin , stem cell , biology , cellular differentiation , signalling , chemistry , signal transduction , biochemistry , gene
GSK‐3β is a key molecule in several signalling pathways, including the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. There is increasing evidence suggesting Wnt/β‐catenin signalling is involved in the neural differentiation of embryonic, somatic and neural stem cells. However, a large body of evidence indicates that this pathway maintains stem cells in a proliferative state. To address this controversy, we have investigated whether the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway is present and involved in the neural differentiation of newly introduced USSCs (unrestricted somatic stem cells). Our results indicate that the components of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling are present in undifferentiated USSCs. We also show that the treatment of neurally induced USSCs with BIO (6‐bromoindirubin‐3′‐oxime), a specific GSK‐3β inhibitor and Wnt activator, for 5 and 10 days results in increased expression of a general neuronal marker (β‐tubulin III). Moreover, the expression of pGSK‐3β and stabilized β‐catenin increased by BIO in neurally induced USSCs, indicates that the Wnt pathway is activated and functional in these cells. Thus, inhibition of GSK‐3β in USSCs enhances their neural differentiation, which suggests a positive role of the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway towards neural fate.