Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Induced In Vitro toward a Neurogenic Direction Temporarily Increase the Expression of NES, NSE, CHAT, and MAP2 Genes without Changing the Basic Immunophenotype.

The pattern of genotypic and immunophenotypic changes in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) induced towards neurogenic differentiation in vitro remains poorly studied. Umbilical cord MSCs from healthy women were cultured in α‑MEM supplemented with 10% human AB(IV) serum and antibiotics. Neuroinduction was performed in KnockOut DMEM/F‑12 medium with StemPro Neural Supplement 2%, FGFb (20 ng/mL), and EGF (20 ng/mL). After 48 h, MSCs exhibited significant upregulation of the neuronal marker mRNAs NES, NSE, CHAT, and MAP2 by 4.3, 4.2, 5.3, and 5.3 times, respectively. During further culturing in complete nutrient medium without inducers, the expression of NES, NSE, CHAT, and MAP2 mRNAs in neuroinduced MSCs decreased by 2.5, 1.6, 2.2, and 3.7 times, respectively, after 6 h, and returned to baseline after 24 h. Throughout the neuroinduction phase and subsequent culturing in the absence of inducers, MSCs retained the basic immunophenotype (CD90+CD105+CD34-CD45-CD73+CD13+). Thus, the observed divergence between the basic phenotype and genotype reflects plasticity of MSCs during neurogenic differentiation in vitro.