Zinc increases nestin but not vimentin gene expression in mouse mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Objectives: Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into multiple cell lineages, including fibroblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, osteoblasts and neurons. Nestin plays an essential role in the central nervous system progression and in neurulation as an intermediate filament. Vimentin is an intermediate filament found generally in mesenchymal tissues. The expression of this gene is important in neuronal and glial differantiation. Zinc participates in many metabolic functions in body including mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Here, the changes in nestin and vimentin gene expressions with zinc had been analyzed on mesenchymal stem cells. We found the role of zinc on these selected genes. Methods: "Primary culture technique" was used in obtaining mouse mesenchimal stem cells in our laboratory. In identification of stem cells, colony forming was visualized and high gene expressions of specific genes were found. Zinc solutions in different concentrations were added to mesenchimal stem cell culture flasks. RNA isolation and c-DNA synthesis were performed for each flask. Nestin and vimentin gene expression changes were found by using real-time polymerase chain reaction in uses of zinc in different concentrations. Results: Due to these results, zinc increased the expression of nestin gene on mesenchymal stem cells. No stimulatory and/or inhibitory effect of zinc was found on vimentine gene. Conclusions: High nestin gene expression probably represents the role of zinc on the mesenchymal stem cell differentiation via nestin gene. Zinc hasn't inhibitory and stimulator role on vimentine gene differantiation. Zinc increases nestin but not vimentin gene expression in mouse mesenchymal stem cells.