Contribution of Human Trophoblast Progenitor Cells to Neurogenesis in Rat Focal Cerebral Ischemia Model

ABSTRACT

Objective

: A decrease in the blood flow below a current level in the brain results in ischemia. Studies demonstrated that human trophoblast progenitor cells (hTPCs) contribute to the treatment of many diseases. Therefore, hTPCs might be a promising source to repair ischemia in cerebral ischemia models. For this purpose, we evaluated the expression of many neurogenesis markers by performing hTPC transplantation after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Methods

: hTPCs, isolated from the term placentae, were characterized by immunofluorescent staining and differentiated into neuron-like cells. Differentiation was confirmed with immunostaining of GFAP and NeuN proteins. Cerebral ischemia models were generated in rats via middle cerebral artery occlusion and, after 24 hours, hTPCs were injected via the tail vein. Animals were sacrificed on day 3 or day 11. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with proteins associated with neurogenesis and neuronal development, such as DLX2, DLX5, LHX6, NGN1, and NGN2, Olig1, Olig2, and PDGFRα.

Results

: According to our results, hTPCs may alleviate ischemic damage in the brain and contribute to the neurogenesis after ischemia.

Conclusions

: Based on our findings, this topic should be further investigated as the hTPC-based therapies may be a reliable source that can be used in the treatment of stroke and ischemia.

KEYWORDS:

• Focal cerebral ischemia
• stroke
• neurogenesis
• human trophoblast stem/progenitor cells

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [114S547] and Akdeniz University [TYL-2016-1653].