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First published online 13 June 2006
doi: 10.1242/jcs.03004

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Synergistic effects of CoCl₂ and ROCK inhibition on mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into neuron-like cells

¹ UMR-CNRS 6185, Neurodegenerescence: models and therapeutic strategies, University of Caen, CYCERON, Bd Henri Becquerel, BP 5229, 14074 Caen CEDEX, France
² CERMN EA3915, Pharmacology and Physiology Department, University of Caen Basse-Normandie, 5 rue Vaubénard, 14032 Caen CEDEX, France

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: bernaudin{at}cyceron.fr)

Accepted 27 March 2006

Bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) constitute an interesting cellular source to promote brain regeneration after neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, several studies suggested that oxygen-dependent gene expression is of crucial importance in governing the essential steps of neurogenesis such as cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. In this context, we analysed the effect of the HIF-1 (hypoxia inducible factor-1) activation-mimicking agent CoCl₂ on MSCs. CoCl₂ treatment increased the expression of the anti-proliferative gene BTG2/PC3 and decreased cyclin D1 expression. Expression of HIF-1 and its target genes EPO, VEGF and p21 was also upregulated. These changes were followed by inhibition of cell proliferation and morphological changes resulting in neuron-like cells, which had increased neuronal marker expression and responded to neurotransmitters. Echinomycin, a molecule inhibiting HIF-1 DNA-binding activity, blocked the CoCl₂ effect on MSCs. Additionally, by using Y-27632, we demonstrated that Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibition potentiated CoCl₂-induced MSC differentiation in particular into dopaminergic neuron-like cells as attested by its effect on tyrosine hydroxylase expression. Altogether, these results support the ability of MSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells in response to CoCl₂, an effect that might act, in part, through HIF-1 activation and cell-cycle arrest, and which is potentiated by inhibition of ROCK.

Key words: Cell cycle, Differentiation, HIF-1, Neurogenesis, Rho, Stem cells

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