hematopoietic stem cell trans-differentiation - (Sep/11/2006 )

Dear all,

I am reviewing some literatures of the trans-differentiation ability of hematopoietic stem cell into neural cells. Some groups demonstrated that CD34+ CD38- cells, CD133+ cells express neural cell phenotype after exposed to cytokines (like Retinoic acid, bFGF...) or astrocyte-derived culture medium. However, some people challenge the concept of trans-differentiation, discribing it as cell-fusion instead. shall anyone have something to say about the concept of trans-differentiation of hematopoietic stem cell? If anyone is doing this kind of research, could you share you experience here?

I've worked with hematopoietic SC culture and LTC-IC assays. The attached photo is of a hematopoietic stem cell colony in methylcellulose. The morphology is interesting, though I'm not sure if it is neural.

No special factors were added. Just thought it was interesting.... I never figured out what was going on here. Comments welcome.

For reference - here is a normal colony photographed on the same day from the same set of plates.

Hi enowyn,

From literatures, HSC could be induced into cells with neural phenotypes with the supplyment of Retinoic acid. And for mesochymal stem cell, rescent publication indicated that it will differentiate into neural cells after the removal of serum. In the long term culture of HSC, I have read any paper taking about the formation of this 'neural cell'. Maybe you could stain the cell for neural markers and see if something interesting.

Ming