Neurosteroid Hormones Modulate the Differentiation of Adult Human Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Results: Human MSCs express receptors for neurosteroids. Nestin expression is decreased by neurosteroids. Neurosteroids also exert differential effects depending on the gender of the hMSC donor; dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was responsible for maximal A2B5 expression in hMSCs from male donors whereas 17-β estradiol (E2) exerted the greatest effect on differentiation of ‘female’ hMSCs. Maximal effects of E2 and DHT were observed at a concentration of 100nM, progesterone (PROG) at 250nM. The neurosteroid-induced increase in oligodendroglial differentiation was abrogated by specific receptor antagonists for E2, PROG and DHT. High concentrations of neurosteroids were toxic for hMSCs, irrespective of gender.