Related resources
Full-text held externally
- DOI: 10.1042/BA20070212
Search for item elsewhere
University researcher(s)
Academic department(s)
Cellular and molecular characterisation of growth factors in differentiated mesenchymal stem cells.
Mahay D, Terenghi G, Shawcross SG
Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry. 2008;51:167-176.
Access to files
Abstract
Schwann cells are essential facilitators of peripheral nerve regeneration following injury as they provide physical support and guidance. In vitro these supporting cells are slow growing, hence not well suited to a tissue engineering approach to nerve repair. We have differentiated rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into Schwann cell-like cells using a cocktail of growth factors including glial growth factor-2. Qualitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunocytochemistry approaches were used to investigate the mRNA transcript levels and protein expression of glial cell markers and neurotrophic factors in differentiated mesenchymal stem cells compared to the levels found in Schwann cells (positive control). The results showed differentiated mesenchymal stem cells expressed transcripts and proteins for the specific glial growth receptor 2, erbB3 and neurotrophic factors, nerve growth factor, brain derived neurotrophic factor, glial derived neurotrophic factor and leukaemia inhibitory factor. Expression of these growth factors provides further evidence that differentiated mesenchymal stem cells appear to have similar cellular and molecular characteristics to Schwann cells.