Indirect Co-Culture with Schwann Cells as a New Approach for Human Endometrial Stem Cells Neural Transdifferentiation

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) refer to the loss of neuronal cells in the central nervous system. Cell replacement therapy is currently the most propitious approach for the treatment of such diseases. Endometrial Stem Cells (EnSC) due to their unique characteristics have recently gained extensive attention as a new source of mesenchymal-like stem cells for tissue engineering purposes. Research has shown the potency of these cells to differentiate into several cell lineages including osteocytes, adipocytes and neural cells using chemical induction. In this present study we describe how human EnSCs can be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells when co-cultured with human Schwann cells via insert wells which inhibit intercellular contact of the two cell types. Quantitative gene expression analysis and immunocytochemistry was performed after one week of co-culture. The results confirmed neuronal differentiation of EnSCs which support the notion that Schwann cells produce and secrete neurotrophic factors that can act upon cells without physical contact. Our present findings support the differentiation of EnSCs and the potency of these cells for the treatment of degenerative and acquired disorders of the nervous system.