Recombinant stromal cell‑derived factor‑1 protein promotes neurite outgrowth in PC‑12 cells.

Stromal cell‑derived factor‑1 (SDF‑1) is a chemokine involved in neuronal differentiation, as well as proliferation and migration. In the present study, the effects of recombinant SDF‑1 on neurite outgrowth for nerve regeneration and engineering were evaluated in PC‑12 cells. The effects of purified SDF‑1 protein on cell toxicity, proliferation and migration were also assessed. SDF‑1 significantly augmented cell proliferation in a dose‑dependent manner, with low cytotoxicity in PC‑12 cells. Cell migration also increased in the presence of SDF‑1. SDF‑1 significantly increased neurite number and length, compared with the control (untreated cells). Neurofilament mRNA levels, which are involved in neuronal differentiation, were also significantly upregulated in the presence of SDF‑1. These results suggested that SDF‑1 might prove useful for tissue engineering through induction of neuronal differentiation.