The present study compared mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord matrix (UCM-MSCs) with bone marrow (BM-MSCs) of miniature pigs on their phenotypic profiles and ability to differentiate in vitro into osteocytes, adipocytes and neuron-like cells. This study further evaluated the therapeutic potential of UCM-MSCs in a mouse Parkinson's disease (PD) model. Differences in expression of some cell surface and cytoplasm specific markers were evident between UCM-MSCs and BM-MSCs. However, the expression profile indicated the primitive nature of UCM-MSCs, along with their less or non-immunogenic features, compared with BM-MSCs. In vitro differentiation results showed that BM-MSCs had a higher tendency to form osteocytes and adipocytes, whereas UCM-MSCs possessed an increased potential to transform into immature or mature neuron-like cells. Based on these findings, UCM-MSCs were transplanted into the right substantia nigra (SN) of a mouse PD model. Transplantation of UCM-MSCs partially recovered the mouse PD model by showing an improvement in basic motor behaviour, as assessed by rotarod and bridge tests. These observations were further supported by the expression of markers, including nestin, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuronal growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), at the site of cell transplantation. Our findings of xenotransplantation have collectively suggested the potential utility of UCM-MSCs in developing viable therapeutic strategies for PD.
Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.