Differentiation of Human Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Into Neural Stem Cells Induced by hPRDX5

Background: The objectives of this study were to investigate the characteristics and capacity of human umbilical cord‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) differentiation into neural stem cells (NSCs) and whether this event enhanced by hPRDX5. Methods and Results: The adherent cells were obtained from umbilical cord of normal full-term newborn by caesarean section under aseptic condition, and cultivated by tissue block culture method. The surface antigen expression profiles of hUC-MSCs were monitored and the multi-directional differentiation potential was identified. Following amplification, the cells of the 4th passage were divided into 5 groups (groups A-E). The morphology was observed under inverted microscope, and the positive expression rate of markers of neural stem cell was detected by immunocytochemical and western blot. Flow cytometry revealed that the hUC-MSCs expressed CD29, CD73, CD90 and CD105, but not CD19, CD34, CD45 or HLA-DR. Treatment with hPRDX5 led to the surface markers of neural stem cells which were positive for Nestin, but negative for NSE and GFAP expression. Conclusions: : Thus, the findings of the present study demonstrate that hPRDX5 effectively promotes hUC-MSCs to differentiate into neural stem cells possibly through TLR4 signaling pathway.