Comparison of two protocols for induction of differentiation of human adipose derived stem cells into oligodendrocyte progenitor cells

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease which affects central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this study was to provide a simple, short term and efficient method for differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs) into oligodendrocyte precursor cells in order to provide a homogeneous population of these cells.
After stem cell isolation, cell differentiation was performed by two methods using embryoid body and ectodermal-like cells. The cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay and the mean percentage of differentiated cells expressing Olig2 and A2B5 markers was determined by using immunocytochemistry techniques. Data were analyzed by independent- samples t- Test.
The results showed that a high percentage of stem cells expressed CD90 and CD105 markers and a low percentage of them expressed CD14 and CD45 markers (hematopoietic cell markers). In addition, the mean percentages of the cells which expressed oligodendrocyte progenitor cells markers (Olig2 and A2B5) were different in the two groups (P=0.031). Moreover, comparison of cell viability showed significant light absorbance by the cells differentiated from embryoid body compared to the other groups (p = 0.044).
The differentiation of human adipose derived stem cells into oligodendrocyte progenitor cells using embryoid body is a rapid and efficient method in order to provide a homogeneous population of these cells.