Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSC) express brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and nerve growth factor(NGF) and their protective effect for neural stem cells (NSCs).MethodsBMSC were obtained from rat tibiae and femurs and centrifuged with Ficoll. The passage 3 cells were chosen to make immunocytochemical stain for CD₄₄, CD₇₁ and CD₄₅. The expression of BDNF and NGF was detected in BMSC with RT-PCR, as well as in the media with ELISA. The media that cultured BMSC were collected as BMSC condition media. NSCs were obtained from cerebral cortex of new-born rat and cultured in vitro. After different ratio of BMSC condition midia were added, NSCs were induced to apoptosis with heat-shock, then NSCs were dyed with Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis kit and apoptosis rates were tested with flow cytometry. ResultsBMSC were CD₄₄(+), CD₄₅(-), CD₇₁(+) and expressed BDNF and NGF mRNA. BDNF and NGF could be tested in the media of cultured BMSC and increase with cultured time. BMSC condition media could reduce the ratio of heat-induced apoptosis of NSCs, and more BMSC condition media showed better effect. ConclusionBMSC can express neurotrophic factores and protect neural stem cells from heat-induced apoptosis.

Key words: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSC), brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), nerve growth factor(NGF), neural stem cell(NSCs), apoptosis, rats