The Combination of Electric Current and Copper Promotes Neuronal Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Abstract

Damage to the nervous system can be caused by several types of insults, and it always has a great effect on the life of an individual. Due to the limited availability of neural transplants, alternative approaches for neural regeneration must be developed. Stem cells have a great potential to support neuronal regeneration. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have gained increasing interest in the fields of regenerative medicine due to their multilineage potential and easy harvest compared to other stem cells. In this study, we present a growth factor-free method for the differentiation of hADSCs toward neuron-like cells. We investigated the effect of electric current and copper on neuronal differentiation. We analyzed the morphological changes, the mRNA and protein expression levels in the stimulated cells and showed that the combination of current and copper induces stem cell differentiation toward the neuronal lineage with elongation of the cells and the upregulation of neuron-specific genes and proteins. The induction of the neuronal differentiation of hADSCs by electric field and copper may offer a novel approach for stem cell differentiation and may be a useful tool for safe stem cell-based therapeutic applications. Abstract and key termsDamage to the nervous system can be caused by several types of insults, and it always has a great effect on the life of an individual. Due to the limited availability of neural transplants, alternative approaches for neural regeneration must be developed. Stem cells have a great potential to support neuronal regeneration.Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have gained increasing interest in the fields of regenerative medicine due to their multilineage potential and easy harvest compared to other stem cells. In this study, we present a growth factor-free method for the differentiation of hADSCs toward neuron-like cells. We investigated the effect of electric current and copper on neuronal differentiation. We analyzed the morphological changes, the mRNA and protein expression levels in the stimulated cells and showed that the combination of current and copper induces stem cell differentiation toward the neuronal lineage with elongation of the cells and the upregulation of neuron-specific genes and proteins. The induction of the neuronal differentiation of hADSCs by electric field and copper may offer a novel approach for stem cell differentiation and may be a useful tool for safe stem cell-based therapeutic applications.

Modulation of Neural Differentiation through Submicron-Grooved Topography Surface with Modified Polydopamine

“…Neuronal differentiation has become one of the popular researches related to neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease, nerve injury, and tissue regeneration. , Transplantation of Schwann cells has been considered as the golden standard in nerve regeneration . The proliferating Schwann cells form the bands of Büngner to direct regenerating axons across the nerve lesion .…”

Controlling Differentiation of Stem Cells for Developing Personalized Organ‐on‐Chip Platforms

“…Electrical cues have also been shown to be effective in regulation of SCs differentiation into neural, cardiac, and vascular lineages . Electrical stimulations improved human adipose‐derived stem cells (hASCs) differentiation for cardiac, neuronal, and osteogenic applications. Monophasic electrical stimulations changed the SC microenvironment and controlled the gene regulations .…”

Our Fat Future: Translating Adipose Stem Cell Therapy

“…We, and others, have used biomimetic magnitudes of cyclic tensile strain [12, 18–20] or fluid shear stress to promote osteogenesis [21, 22], hydrostatic pressure to promote chondrogenesis [23], oscillatory shear stress to alter actin organization and differentiation potential [24], and unloading to promote adipogenesis [25, 26] or maintain the stemness of hASC spheroids [27]. Electrical stimulation has been shown to enhance hASC differentiation for cardiac [28], neuronal [29], and osteogenic [30] applications. The use of biomimetics to direct stem cell fate will likely be incorporated into automated closed‐system devices through physiologic chemical, mechanical, and electrical stimuli to further optimize hASC performance for specific applications.…”