Factors inducing human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into neuron-like cells

OBJECTIVE: Human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCB-derived MSCs) can differentiate into neuron-like cells, which can be used to treat some central nervous system (CNS) diseases. To investigate the factors, which can induce HUCB-derived MSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells, so as to find effective methods for future clinical application. DATA SOURCES: Using the key terms "human umbilical cord blood" combined with "mesenchymal stem cells, neuron-like cells, neural cells" respectively, the relevant articles in English published during the period from January 1999 to June 2006 were searched from the Medline database. Meanwhile, relevant Chinese articles published from January 1999 to June 2006 were searched using the same key terms. STUDY SELECTION: All articles associated with the differentiation from human umbilical cord blood into neuron-like cells were selected firstly. Then the full texts were looked up by searching Ovid medical journals full-text database and Elsevier Electrical Journals Full-text Database. Articles with full experiments, enrolled in inducible factors or involved inducible mechanism were retrieved. DATA EXTRACTION: Among 119 collected correlative articles, 29 were involved and 90 were excluded. DATA SYNTHESIS: The inducible factors of HUCB-derived MSCs differentiating into neuron-like cells included renal endothelial growth factors, fibroblasts, β- mercaptoethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, butyl hydroxyl anisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Danshen, retinoic acid, sodium ferulate and so on, but its mechanism was unclear. CONCLUSION: Human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs can differentiate into neuron-like cells, with varied inductors.