BACKGROUND:It is confirmed that astrocytes can differentiate into neurons by Neurogenin2 gene regulation, suggesting that Schwann cells may also differentiate into neurons by gene regulation.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the feasibility of Schwann cells differentiating into neurons by Neurogenin2 gene regulation.
METHODS:Rats Schwann cells were isolated, purified and identified. Then the Schwann cells were transfected with Neurogenin2 via green fluorescent protein gene-plentivirus. To induce neuronal differentiation, the Schwann cells were cultured in serum-free Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium containing epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor for 2 weeks. The morphology of induced cells was observed by microscope, and myelin basic protein and neuron-specific enolase were detected by immunocytochemistry.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After transfection with Neurogenin2 via green fluorescent protein gene-plentivirus and induced differentiation, immunofluorescence assay demonstrated that 12.56%of the induced cellexpressed neuron-specific enolase, but the control group did not express neuron-specific enolase. Neurogenin2 gene-transfected Schwann cells can express neuron-specific enolase, suggesting Neurogenin2 gene may regulate transdifferentiation of Schwann cells into neurons.