Ann Stem Cell Res Ther | Volume 2, Issue 4 | Research Article | Open Access

A Promotional Role of BDNF in Pluripotent Stem Cells Neural Differentiation via Wnt/ β -Catenin and ERK/ MAPK Signaling Pathways

Shuang-Qing Chen1*, Fan Zhang1, Chen-Lu Liu1, Ming-Min Tong1 and Zhong Zhao2

1Department of Stem Cells Research, Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China
2Department of Neurology, Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China

*Correspondance to: Shuang-Qing Chen 

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Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of Wnt/ β -catenin and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways in BrainDerived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) differentiation into Neural Stem Cells (NSCs).
Methods: We induced iPSCs to differentiate into NSCs with BDNF and the expression of β -catenin and p-ERK1/2 in BDNF-induced differentiation of iPSCs using small interference RNA (siRNA)- induced silencing of β -catenin and ERK genes. The differentiation rate of iPSCs was detected by flow cytometry.
Results: We find that Wnt/ β -catenin and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways were activated at the same time by BDNF. However, the expression of p-ERK1/2 was significantly down regulated by siRNA-ERK, whereas the expressions of β -catenin were unaffected by siRNA-ERK. On the contrary, the expressions of β -catenin were significantly down regulated by siRNA- β -catenin, and the expressions of p-ERK1/2 were also partially down regulated by siRNA- β -catenin. It suggested that the Wnt/ β -catenin and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways are not independently involved in the process of BDNF-induced iPSCs differentiation.
Conclusion: BDNF can significantly increase the efficiency of iPSCs differentiating into NSCs by activating the Wnt/ β -catenin and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways, and an interconnected relationship may exist between two signaling pathways.

Keywords:

Induced pluripotent stem cells; Neural stem cells; MAPK; Signaling; Differentiation

Citation:

Chen S-Q, Zhang F, Liu C-L, Tong M-M, Zhao Z. A Promotional Role of BDNF in Pluripotent Stem Cells Neural Differentiation via Wnt/ β -Catenin and ERK/MAPK Signaling Pathways. Ann Stem Cell Res Ther. 2018; 2(4): 1022.

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