Expression of neural markers in human umbilical cord blood

A population of cells derived from human and rodent bone marrow has been sh own by several groups of investigators to give rise to glia and neuron-like cells. Here we show that human umbilical cord blood cells treated with ret inoic acid (RA) and nerve growth factor (NGF) exhibited a change in phenoty pe and expressed molecular markers usually associated with neurons and glia . Musashi-1 and beta -tubulin III, proteins found in early neuronal develop ment, were expressed in the induced cord blood cells. Other molecules assoc iated with neurons in the literature, such as glypican 4 and pleiotrophin m RNA, were detected using DNA microarray analysis and confirmed independentl y with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Glial fibr illary acidic protein (GFAP) and its mRNA were also detected in both the in duced and untreated cord blood cells. Umbilical cord blood appears to be mo re versatile than previously known and may have therapeutic potential for n euronal replacement or gene delivery in neurodegenerative diseases, trauma, and genetic disorders. (C) 2001 Academic Press.