Neural differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with human brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gene‐modified in functionalized self‐assembling peptide hydrogel in vitro

• Published in: Journal of cellular biochemistry Vol. 120; no. 3; pp. 2828 - 2835
• Main Authors: Luo, Hongbin, Xu, Changsheng, Liu, Zhiwei, Yang, Lin, Hong, Yunda, Liu, Guisheng, Zhong, Huifen, Cai, Xinyi, Lin, Xuping, Chen, Xiaokun, Wang, Changsheng, Nanwen, Zhang, Xu, Weihong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Bone marrow; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; Brain; Brain stem; CD29 antigen; CD45 antigen; CD90 antigen; Cell growth; Cell proliferation; Cell surface; Differentiation; Fluorescence; Gene expression; Glial fibrillary acidic protein; human brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gene; hydrogel; Hydrogels; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchyme; mRNA; Neuronal-glial interactions; Neurotrophic factors; Peptides; Phosphopyruvate hydratase; Proteins; Reporter gene; self‐assembling peptide; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Surface markers; Transfection; differentiation; human brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; hydrogel; self-assembling peptide
• ISSN: 0730-2312; 1097-4644
• DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26408

Objective To investigate the biocompatibility and differentiation of human brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (hBDNF) gene‐modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBDNF‐rMSCs) in a functionalized self‐assembling peptide hydrogel. Methods hBDNF was engineered in rMSCs using adenovirus vector and the enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) was used as a reporter gene. Mesenchymal stem cell‐specific surface markers (CD90, CD29, and CD45) were used for identifying rat‐derived MSCs. Fluorescence microscope was used to detect the transfection of rMSCs. hBDNF‐rMSCs and control cells (eGFP‐rMSCs) were seeded in a functional self‐assembling peptide hydrogel (RADA16‐PRG hydrogel) and a control hydrogel (RADA16 hydrogel). Cells were divided into three groups (hBDNF‐rMSCs + RADA16 hydrogel, hBDNF‐rMSCs + RADA16‐PRG hydrogel, and eGFP‐rMSCs + RADA16‐PRG hydrogel) and a control group (eGFP‐rMSCs + RADA16 hydrogel). Cell growth, cell proliferation, expression of hBDNF‐mRNA, the level of hBDNF, neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) protein were analyzed for each group. Results rMSCs were positive for CD90 and CD29 and negative for CD45, green fluorescence was strongly visible at 72 hours after transfection. Compared with control group, the expression of hBDNF‐mRNA and levels of hBDNF protein in both hBDNF group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), the cell growth, cell proliferation, and levels of NSE and GFAP protein were significantly increased in three groups ( P < 0.01). Cell growth, cell proliferation, expression of hBDNF‐mRNA, and levels of hBDNF, NSE, and GFAP protein in hBDNF‐rMSCs + RADA16‐PRG hydrogel group were significantly higher than that of hBDNF‐rMSCs + RADA16 hydrogel group ( P < 0.01). Conclusion Bone marrow MSCs can be induced into neural cells by the human brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gene in a RADA16‐PRG functionalized self‐assembling peptide hydrogel. 1. hBDNF were successfully engineered in rMSCs using adenovirus vector.2. hBDNF‐rMSCs grew and proliferated well in a functional self‐assembling peptide hydrogel (RADA16‐PRG hydrogel).3. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can be induced into neural cells by the human brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gene in a RADA16‐PRG functionalized self‐assembling peptide hydrogel.