Migration of stem/progenitor cells is a crucial event for homing toward tissue where cells need to be renewed. The neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been shown to have a crucial role in migration of neuronal stem/progenitor cells. Since human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) contains stem/progenitor cells able to generate either neuronal or hematopoietic cells, we evaluated the effect of GABA on this type of cells. While whole fraction of mononuclear cells expressed GABAA and GABAB receptor subunits (GABA-R), only GABABR subunits were found to be expressed on immature CD133+ cells. Functional experiments revealed that both cell fractions of HUCB were attracted by a gradient of GABA concentration and furthermore were blocked by specific antagonists of GABAAR and GABABR bicuculline and saclofen, respectively. Moreover, through GABABR activation the migrating fraction was highly enriched by both hematopoietic progenitors and cells able to generate neuron- like cells in culture. Therefore, GABA is a potent chemoattractant of HUCB stem/progenitor cells specifically through GABABR activation.
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