Neuronal differentiation of mouse amnion membrane derived stem cells in response to neonatal brain medium

Amniotic membrane derived stem cells have considerable advantages to use in regenerative medicine and their anti-inflammatory effects, growth factor secretion and differentiation potential, make them suitable candidatesfor stem cell therapy of nervous system. The developing and neonatal brain contains a spectrum of growth factorsto direct development of endogenous and donor cells. Using an in vitro model, we investigated the plasticity andpotential of mouse amnion membrane stem cells to differentiate into neural cells in response to neonatal mice brain medium. Mouse amniotic membrane stem cells were isolated from embryonic membrane and confirmed by flowcytometric analysis of their surface markers. Co-culture of harvested stem cells and neonatal brain derivedmedium was conducted for 21 days and neural differentiation of cells was explored using immunohistochemistry and flowcytometry analyses. Isolated amnion membrane stem cells showed high rate of viability and proliferation and also expressed stem cell markers such CD105 and CD90. Amnion stem cells presented neural characters such morphological changes and development of axon like appendixes as well as Nestin and Map-2 expression whenneighbored with brain tissue. In conclusion, the current investigation showed that amnion membrane derived stem cells are potent cells for responding to environmental signals promoting them to neural fate and could be used in regenerative medicine of neurodegenerative disorders

Keywords:

fetal tissue , neuron , regeneration , stem cell