Immunocytochemical analysis of valproic acid induced histone H3 and H4 acetylation during differentiation of rat adipose derived stem cells into neuron-like cells

Valproic acid (VPA) is an inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs) that can regulate differentiation and proliferation of stem cells by epigenetic mechanisms. We investigated VPA induced histone H3 and H4 acetylation in adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) transdifferentiated into neuron-like cells (NLCs). Rat ADSCs were transdifferentiated into neural stem cells (NSCs) that had been generated from neurospheres. The NSCs were differentiated into NLCs by induction with different concentrations of VPA at 24, 48 and 72 h. The NLCs were evaluated using anti-H3 and -H4 antibodies, and ADSCs, NSCs and NLCs were evaluated using immunofluorescence. The ADSCs were immunoreactive to CD90 and CD49d, but not to CD45 and CD31. Both the neurospheres and NSCs were immunostained with nestin and neurofilament 68. The neurospheres expressed Musashi1, Sox2 and Neu N genes as determined by RT-PCR. Our dose-response study indicated that the optimal concentration of VPA was 1 mM at 72 h. Histone acetylation levels of H3 and H4 immunostaining intensities in NLCs were significantly greater than for ADSCs and NSCs. VPA alters H4 and H3 acetylation immunoreactivities of ADSCs transdifferentiated into NLCs.