Preparation of Neural Progenitors from Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood

The bone marrow is clearly much more than a reservoir of stem cells that repopulates blood cell lineages throughout life. The marrow also contains nonhematopoietic stem cells, which are much more versatile than previously appreciated. These nonhematopoietic stem/progenitor cells are found in the bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) population. BMSCs also are known as colony-forming unit fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs also can be generated from umbilical cord blood and other tissues. MSCs have been shown to express properties of neuroectodermal cells in vitro by many researchers and in vivo after transplantation into the brain and spinal cord. Many investigators have developed variations on the original method described 6 years ago for the preparation of neural progenitors from BMSCs. We bring up to date the materials and procedures used to prepare BMSCs from bone marrow and from human umbilical cord blood for the induction of neural progenitor cells and subsequent differentiation into neurons and glia.