769 International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies (IJPSAT) ISSN: 2509-0119. © 2020 International Journals of Sciences and High Technologies http://ijpsat.ijsht-journals.org Vol. 21 No. 2 July 2020, pp. 221-228 Corresponding Author: Mahmoud Elhussiny 221 A New Method for Differentiating Mesenchymal Stem Cells toward Neural Lineage Mahmoud Elhussiny 1,2 , Mohamed Elshahat Ebaid 1 , Tamer Mohamed Roshdy 1 , Mohamed Salama 2 , Mohamed Sobh 2 1 Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute University of Sadat city Egypt. 2 Medical Experimental Research Center (MERC), Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Abstract – AIM: To investigate and find an efficient method for inducing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into neural differentiation. METHODS: MSCs from rat bone marrow were purified using adhesiveness property of stem cells, then characterized with flowcytometer. The isolated cells seeded in neural induction medium for 4 days, Morphology and immunocytochemistry were used to identify the neural differentiation grade. RESULTS: MSCs exhibited neural network after differentiation, instead of homogenous fibroblast-like morphology before differentiation. Flowcytometric analysis confirmed the identity of mesenchymal stem cells. More than 80 percent of all population were stained positive for Tau protein. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow MSCs have ectodermal differentiation capabilities. MSCs can differentiate into functional neuron-like cells, and may be used as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Keywords – Stem Cell, Neuron, Differentiation, Tau Protein, Neurodegenerative Disease. I. INTRODUCTION Surgical and medical therapy for central nervous system diseases, including degenerative, traumatic, and ischemic damage, are very limited, and it is too hard to expect recovery from nervous system damage. To regenerate the damaged nervous tissues, a neuron transplantation is a raised possibility. A study that transplanted fetal dopaminergic neurons to an adult who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease showed positive results.[1] However, its use is controversial because there are still many ethical issues with the application of fetal or embryo stem cells to patient treatment. Also, techniques for obtaining a sufficient quantity of adult neuronal stem cells are still limited.([2],[3]) Therefore, this cannot be considered a proper method for application in clinical cases.[4] Since the last century, many scientists have shown the existence of non-hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow. In 1968, Friedenstein et al shown that these cells can be differentiated into bones. Later, Owen1 reported that these cells have a self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation capacity. These population have been called marrow stromal stem cells or, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and there are several researchers who focused their work on these population. They are isolated from adipose tissue,