Open AccessConversion of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Wharton's Jelly to Dopaminergic Neurons In Vitro: Potential Therapeutic Application for Parkinsonism
Author(s) -
Fu YuShow,
Cheng YunChih,
Lin MaanYuh Anya,
Cheng Henrich,
Chu PeiMing,
Chou ShihChich,
Shih YangHsin,
Ko MiauHwa,
Sung MinShan
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0053
Subject(s) - wharton's jelly , biology , dopaminergic , mesenchymal stem cell , umbilical cord , tyrosine hydroxylase , stem cell , transplantation , dopamine , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , endocrinology , medicine
Human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord were induced to transform into dopaminergic neurons in vitro through stepwise culturing in neuron‐conditioned medium, sonic hedgehog, and FGF8. The success rate was 12.7%, as characterized by positive staining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate‐limiting catecholaminergic synthesizing enzyme, and dopamine being released into the culture medium. Transplantation of such cells into the striatum of rats previously made Parkinsonian by unilateral striatal lesioning with the dopaminergic neurotoxin 6‐hydroxydopamine partially corrected the lesion‐induced amphetamine‐evoked rotation. Viability of the transplanted cells at least 4 months after transplantation was identified by positive TH staining and migration of 1.4 mm both rostrally and caudally. These results suggest that human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells have the potential for treatment of Parkinson's disease.