Wnt/PCP Pathway Regulates the Migration and Neural Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Vitro.

Introduction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an excellent donor graft source due to their potential for self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation. However, the potential mechanisms involved in MSC homing and neural differentiation are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a chemokine, SDF-1a, and Wnt3a ligand on rat MSCs' migration and b-mercaptoethanol (BME)-induced neural differentiation of MSCs. Materials and methods. MSCs were isolated from rat bone marrow and cultured in vitro to passage 3. Scratch tests and transwell assays were used to estimate the effects of SDF-1a (25 ng/mL) and Wnt3a (10 ng/mL) on the migration of MSCs. The expression of Wnt/PCP pathway proteins RhoA, c-Jun, ATF2, and Wnt3a were assessed by Western blot. The 5 mM BME-induced neural differentiation of MSCs was determined by immunofluorescence to detect neuron- and astrocyte-specific markers such as nestin, GFAP, and Olig2. Results. Wnt3a promoted the migration ability of MSCs and regulated the expression of RhoA, c-Jun, and ATF2 proteins. MSCs could differentiate into neural stem cells and astrocytes. Wnt3a enhanced BME-induced neurogenesis in MSCs by increasing the protein expression of RhoA, c-Jun, and Wnt3a. Conclusions. The present study demonstrated that the Wnt/PCP pathway promotes migration and neural differentiation of rat MSC. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2022, Vol. 60, No. 1, 44-54)