en Cell, Stem Cell and Cancer Cell, Stem Cell and Cancer Experimental research article Experimental research article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Introduction:</strong> </span><span class="fontstyle2">Stem cell therapy is considered as a promising strategy to treat neurological disorders. Amongst different cell types that are recruited under these devastating conditions, epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSCs) are known as potential candidates. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin) is one of the commonly prescribed drugs that might affect the therapeutic potential of the transplanted stem cells. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ASA on the expression of fundamental growth factors involved in restorative pathways expressed by EPI-NCSCs </span><span class="fontstyle3">in vitro </span><span class="fontstyle2">for possible combination therapy&rsquo;s purpose. </span><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods:</strong> </span><span class="fontstyle2">EPI-NCSCs were obtained from the rat&rsquo;s hair follicle. The appropriate ASA concentration to treat the cells was defined based on the MTT assay and then the obtained cells were treated with 80 or 800&micro;M ASA for 1, 3 or 7 days. The relative expressions of </span><span class="fontstyle3">Bdnf, Gdnf, Ngf, Neurotrophin-3, Vegf, Gfap, </span><span class="fontstyle2">and </span><span class="fontstyle3">doublecortin </span><span class="fontstyle2">were finally assessed by qRT-PCR. </span><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results:</strong> </span><span class="fontstyle2">The obtained data revealed that the growth factors expressions are influenced by concentration and duration of the treatment applied. One-day ASA treatment was found to be able to increase the expression of all the evaluated genes, except </span><span class="fontstyle3">Gdnf </span><span class="fontstyle2">and </span><span class="fontstyle3">doublecortin</span><span class="fontstyle2">, which elevated three days later. Herein, seven-day treatment of stem cells with 800&micro;M ASA resulted in higher levels of </span><span class="fontstyle3">Bdnf, Vegf, </span><span class="fontstyle2">and </span><span class="fontstyle3">doublecortin</span><span class="fontstyle2">.</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> </span><span class="fontstyle2">Therefore, combination of aspirin and EPI-NCSCs might increase the therapeutic potential of these stem cells to treat neurological disorders.</span></div> Aspirin, ASA, EPI-NCSCs, Growth factors, Neurological disorders 200 212 http://ppj.phypha.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1543-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Seyedeh Shaghayegh Zafarmand 3200319475328460030937 3200319475328460030937 No Zarghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zarghan, Iran Mohammad Saied Salehi 3200319475328460030938 3200319475328460030938 No Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Mohammad Javad Mokhtari 3200319475328460030939 3200319475328460030939 No Young Research and Elite Club, Zarghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zarghan, Iran Anahid Safari 3200319475328460030940 3200319475328460030940 No Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Sareh Pandamooz 3200319475328460030941 3200319475328460030941 No Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Mehdi Dianatpour 3200319475328460030942 3200319475328460030942 No Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Afshin Borhani-Haghighi neuro.ab@gmail.com 3200319475328460030943 3200319475328460030943 Yes Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran