Therapeutic effect of TO901317 on 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson rats in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Background: Stem cells from different sources could differentiate into dopamine-producing cells and ameliorate behavioral deficits in Parkinsonian models. Especially, human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) have many advantages without ethical dispute. Liver X receptor s (LXRs) are involved in the maintenance of the normal function of the central nervous system myelin. We have reported the induction of cocktail-induced da phenotypes from adult rat BMSCs by using sonic hedgehog (SHH), fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and TO901317 (agonist of LXRs) with 87.42% of efficiency in 6 days of period of induction. But the previous work did not verify whether the induced cells had the corresponding neural function. Methods: In this study, we demonstrated that TO901317 could promote the differentiation of hBMSCs into dopaminergic neurons. Neuronal markers (Tuj1, Neun and Nestin), dopamine neuron markers (tyrosine hydroxylase, TH), LXRa and LXRb were detected by immunofluorescence. RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA expressions of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). Western Blotting detected the changes of LXRa, LXRb and TH expression. Results: TO901317 significantly enhanced the differentiation from hBMSCs to DA neurons. Only the LXR+GF group released dopamine by the result of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Compared with the control group and GF group, the optimal time for differentiation of hBMSCs treated by 0.5mM TO901317 combined with GF was six days. And the maximum induction efficiency was 91.67%. After transplanting induced-cells into Parkinson's disease rats, the symptoms of Parkinson's rats decreased, and the number of dopamine neurons increased in the substantia nigra and striatum. Conclusions: TO901317 promoted differentiation of hBMSCs into dopamine neurons may be related to activation of LXR-ABCA1 signaling pathway. These data suggest that TO901317 may serve as a potential therapeutic methods for Parkinson's disease.