(OP 202) Neurogeneic and Osteogeneic Potential of Placental-Derived Cells: Why Should We Use Placenta?

Objective: To determine the osteogeneic and neurogeneic differentiation potential of placental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) Study Design: Fetal MSCs from first trimester placental chorionic villi and term gestation chorion were isolated and grown in the presence of EGF and FGF-2 as floating spheric clusters. After plating on collagen, neural differentiation was initiated with retinoic acid and growth factors. Differentiation into neurons, oli-godendrocytes and astrocytes and their progenitors was monitored immunohistochemically and by RT-PCR of neural genes. 20-PAGE followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with subsequent tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used for protein identification. Results: Placental-derived MSC's differentiated into osteogeneic, chondrogeneic and adipogeneic cell lines. After 5-7 days in the neurogeneic medium, placental MSC formed rapidly proliferating neurosphere-like structures which stained strongly positive for nestin. 60-80% of the cells outgrowing from stimulated neuropheres were positive for Tuj-1 and TUC-4, both markers specific for immediately postmitotic neurons (untreated controls: 4%), also confirmed in the Proteomics analyses. 10% of the neurons expressed markers for more mature postmitotic neurons (NeuN; MAP1B; NF-M; NSE). Mature (MAP2+/TAU1+/NF200+) neurons were rarely found (1%). A part of the neurons had dopaminergic, another serotonergic or glutamatergic (but not GAGAergic) character. A fraction of 5-10% of the neurally differentiated cells had oligodendrocytic character: Conclusion: Placental MSCs can differentiate into early neural progenitors and might be an ideal source for autologous stem cell graft for peripartum neuroregeneration.