원문정보
초록
영어
Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been considered to be alternative sources of adult stem cells because of their potential to trans-differentiate into multiple cell lineages. This study investigated the possible role of gangliosides in neural differentiation of hMSCs. When hMSCs were cultured in neural differentiation condition, expression of neural cell maker genes such as nestin, MAP-2 and NeuN was detected. Immunostaining and high-performance thin-layer chromatography analyses showed that an increase in ganglioside biosynthesis was associated with neural differentiation of hMSCs. We found a significant increase in GD3 and GD1a expression during neural differentiation. To confirm the role of gangliosides in neural differentiation, ganglioside biosynthesis was inhibited in hMSCs by knockdown of UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (Ugcg). Ugcg knockdown hMSCs were not able to differentiate into neural cells. These results suggest that gangliosides may play a role in the neural differentiation process of hMSCs.