mRNA-Engineered Stem Cells Produce Nerve Growth Factor and Induce Neurite Outgrowth in Recipient Cells

Here, we show that chemically modified messenger RNA (cmRNA) encoding nerve growth factor (NGF) can stimulate neurogenic responses in vitro. NGF cmRNA was delivered to human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells using lipid carriers, leading to efficient NGF production.

In co-culture, NGF-secreting stem cells induced differentiation of neural crest-derived PC-12 cells, as evidenced by increased neurite outgrowth and branching. Proteomic analyses revealed activation of neurogenesis-related pathways in both cell types. Notably, NGF cmRNA-transfected stem cells produced lower NGF levels than recombinant protein yet achieved comparable neurogenic effects, demonstrating the efficiency of the transcript-based approach.