Transdifferentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into oligodendrocyte progenitor cells

Abstract

Background: Stem cell-based therapy is a new method for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) are a kind of adult stem cells which have a higher frequency in the fat tissue and have the ability to differentiate into other cell types outside their lineage. Due to some serious adverse events of cell-based therapy such as tumorigenic potential, the aim of this study was to evaluate of hADSCs differentiation into oligodendrocytes as a valuable way for future cell transplantation. Methods: hADSC were isolated from lipoaspirate samples of human abdominal fat. After hADSC characterization via flow cytometry, the cells were induced to oligodendrocytes using a special differentiation medium. Finally, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), immunocytochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques were used for the evaluation of differentiated cells. Results: Flow cytometry indicated that hADSCs were CD105- and CD49-positive, but were negative for CD31 and CD45 markers. In addition, immunocytochemistry analysis revealed that a high percent of differentiated cells expressed oligodendrocyte progenitor cells markers A2B5 and oligodendrocyte transcription factor (Olig2) which were significantly higher than myelin basic protein (MBP) which is mature oligodendrocytes marker. Moreover, a very low percentage of differentiated cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) marker. Finally, real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis confirmed the results of immunocytochemistry. Conclusion: Since hADSCs have the potential to differentiate into multi-lineage cells and due to their additional characteristics such as immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties, it seems that these cells may be an ideal cell source for oligodendrocytes differentiation.