In Vitro Differentiation of Human Wharton's Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Auditory Hair Cells and Neurons

OBJECTIVE: We attempted to induce mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human Wharton's jelly (WJ) to differentiate into neuronal progenitor cells, neurons, and auditory hair cells. MATERIALS and METHODS: MSCs were isolated from WJ from human umbilical cords and cultured in medium containing epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Differentiation into hair cells and neurons was induced using a neurobasal medium containing glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophic factor 3. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), immunocytochemistry, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed to characterize the differentiated auditory hair cells and neurons. RESULTS: MSCs isolated from human WJ were confirmed by FACS. Double immunocytochemistry confirmed the expression of the hair cell markers myosin VIIA and TRPA1 and the functional marker C-terminal binding protein 2. Differentiation into neurons was revealed using neurofilament and aIII-tubulin markers. Gene expression of neuronal lineage-specific markers confirmed the neuronal differentiation state. CONCLUSION: MSCs from human WJ can be successfully induced to differentiate into auditory hair cells and neurons in vitro.