Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue Differentiated into Neuronal or Glial Phenotype Express Different Aquaporins

Aquaporins (AQPs) are 13 integral membrane proteins that provide selective pores for the rapid movement of water and other uncharged solutes, across cell membranes. Recently, AQPs have been focused for their role in production, circulation, and homeostasis of the cerebrospinal fluid and their importance in several human diseases is becoming clear. This study investigated the time course (0, 14, and 28 days) of AQP1, 4, 7, 8, and 9 during the neural differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adipose tissue (AT). For this purpose, two different media, enriched with serum or B-27 and N1 supplements, were applied to give a stimulus toward neural lineage. After 14 days, the cells were cultured with neuronal or glial differentiating medium for further 14 days. The results confirmed that AT-MSCs could be differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, expressing not only the typical neural markers but also specific AQPs depending on differentiated cell type. Our data demonstrated that at 28 days, AT-MSCs express only AQP1; astrocytes AQP1, 4, and 7; oligodendrocytes AQP1, 4, and 8; and finally neurons AQP1 and 7. This study provides fundamental insight into the biology of the mesenchymal stem cells and it suggests that AQPs can be potential neural markers.