Effects of Pharmacological Agents on Human Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells in Culture

The neurorestorative effect of human amniotic fluid stem cells on the chronic phase of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in mice

BACKGROUND

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains a major cause of cerebral palsy. Increasing evidence has suggested that mesenchymal stem cells have a favorable effect on HIE. However, the efficacy of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFS) for HIE, especially in the chronic phase, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the neurorestorative effect of hAFS on the chronic phase of HIE.

METHODS

hAFS were isolated from AF cells as CD117-positive cells. HI was induced in 9-day-old mice. Animals intranasally received hAFS or phosphate-buffered saline at 10 days post HI and were harvested for histological analysis after functional tests at 21 days post HI. We also implanted PKH26-positive hAFS to assess their migration to the brain. Finally, we determined gene expressions of trophic factors in hAFS co-cultured with HI brain extract.

RESULTS

hAFS improved sensorimotor deficits in HIE by gray and white matter restoration and neuroinflammation reduction followed by migration to the lesion. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) gene expressions in hAFS were elevated when exposed to HI-induced brain extract.

CONCLUSION

hAFS induced functional recovery by exerting neurorestorative effects in HIE mice, suggesting that intranasal administration of hAFS could be a novel treatment for HIE, especially in the chronic phase.

Methotrexate and Valproic Acid Affect Early Neurogenesis of Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells from Myelomeningocele

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a severe type of neural tube defect (NTD), in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close completely during early embryonic development. This condition results in serious morbidity and increased mortality after birth. Folic acid significantly reduces, and conversely, folate antagonist methotrexate (MTX) and valproic acid (VPA) increase the occurrence of NTDs, including MMC. How these pharmacological agents exactly influence the early neurulation process is still largely unclear. Here, we characterized human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (AFSCs) from prenatally diagnosed MMC and observed an effect of MTX and VPA administration on the early neural differentiation process. We found that MMC-derived AFSCs highly expressed early neural and radial glial genes that were negatively affected by MTX and VPA exposure. In conclusion, we setup a human cell model of MMC to study early neurogenesis and for drug screening purposes. We also proposed the detection of early neural gene expression in AFSCs as an additional MMC diagnostic tool.