鸡胚胎生殖细胞在鼠胚成纤维细胞饲养层上的生长

目的:探讨以鼠胚成纤维细胞为饲养层分离、培养鸡胚胎生殖细胞的方法和条件。方法:分离、培养12.5～13.5d鼠胚成纤维细胞。分离孵化5.5d鸡胚原始生殖细胞,原代培养时不使用饲养层,与性腺基质细胞共培养;继代培养时将其置于鼠胚成纤维细胞饲养层上,在含生长因子、分化抑制因子的培养体系中培养胚胎生殖细胞。结果:鼠胚成纤维细胞可连续传代18代以上(4个月),3～15代细胞可以用作饲养层细胞。分离的鸡胚胎生殖细胞在饲养层上可增殖形成典型胚胎生殖细胞集落,并能连续在体外培养超过9代。集落未分化标志高碘酸希夫反应(PAS)呈强阳性,体外分化实验表明胚胎生殖细胞具有多能性。结论:用鼠胚成纤维细胞作为饲养层能获得可连续增殖的胚胎生殖细胞。     

胎胰源性Nestin阳性细胞向多巴胺能细胞元定向诱导分化的研究

目的：探讨胎儿胰岛源性Nestin（神经上皮干细胞蛋白）阳性干细胞分化为多巴胺能神经元的潜能。方法：用胶原酶消化法分离胎儿胰岛,贴壁培养后获得增殖力旺盛的细胞;用免疫组化法、免疫荧光法分别检测其增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）及神经干细胞标志物Nestin的表达;用流式细胞术测定Nestin阳性细胞的比例;经N2培养液筛选后,分别用SHH（sonichedgehog）蛋白、成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF）8、胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（GDNF）和脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）向多巴胺能神经元定向诱导,检测诱导细胞的多巴胺能神经元标志酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）和芳香左旋氨基酸脱羧酶（AADC）的表达情况。结果：免疫荧光显示,从胎儿胰岛分离的干细胞表达PCNA和Nestin;流式细胞术检测Nestin阳性率达13．74％;筛选后向神经细胞定向诱导分化,细胞表达TH和AADC。结论：从胎儿胰岛中可以分离出Nestin阳性的神经干细胞,该细胞具有向多巴胺能神经元定向分化的能力。     

兔胚胎神经干细胞的分离、培养和鉴别

目的：研究兔胎脑神经干细胞体外生长特性,为探讨神经干细胞的临床应用及神经系统的发育奠定基础。方法：采用含碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）和表皮细胞生长因子（EGF）的N2无血清培养技术,取18天龄兔胚胎脑组织,分离神经干细胞,并观察分离的细胞体外培养、增殖、分化潜能,免疫组化鉴定。结果：从18天龄兔胎脑皮质和纹状体中成功分离出具有自我更新和多分化潜能的神经干细胞,在无血清培养时细胞呈半贴壁状态生长,形成神经球,可传代。细胞呈Nestin免疫反应阳性;在含血清培养基中培养时则分化,分化后的细胞表达神经元细胞、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞的特异性抗原。结论：来自兔胎脑神经干细胞能在体外培养、增殖并保持传代能力。无血清N2EGF、bFGF培养基有利于兔胎脑神经干细胞的存活和增殖,含血清培养基能诱导兔胎脑神经干细胞分化。     

新生大鼠脊髓神经干细胞的分离培养及鉴定

目的　从新生大鼠的脊髓中分离培养神经干细胞并观察其增殖和分化能力。方法　采用细胞培养技术结合间接免疫荧光细胞化学法。结果　分离的细胞生长旺盛 ,单克隆化生成的细胞团 ,BrdU掺入呈强阳性。分离培养获得的细胞团呈Nestin强阳性 ,至今已在体外连续传代 8个月。培养的细胞团经 1%小牛血清诱导可分化为神经元和星形胶质细胞。结论　成功分离培养了新生大鼠脊髓神经干细胞     

乳鼠海马神经干细胞的体外分离、扩增和分化研究

探讨海马神经干细胞（neuralstemcells,NSCs）在体外分离扩增和诱导分化的可行性。无菌条件下分离新生（24h）SD大鼠海马神经干细胞,采用无血清培养和胎牛血清诱导分化。免疫荧光染色技术分别检测诱导前细胞巢蛋白（Nestin）的表达,以及分化细胞的神经元特异性烯醇化酶（neuron specific enolase,NSE）、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（glialfibrillaryacidicprotein,GFAP）的表达,以鉴定细胞类型。流式细胞仪检测神经干细胞分化前后增殖能力的变化。结果显示：从乳鼠海马分离培养的细胞生长状态良好,具有克隆增殖能力,并呈Nestin表达阳性,分化后可出现NSE及GFAP表达阳性的细胞。流式细胞仪检测显示：诱导前,细胞增殖活跃,S＋G2／M期细胞为（36．27±1．99）％,而分化各阶段（3,7,10d）S＋G2／M期细胞比例与诱导前（Ctrl）相比则明显下降（尸〈0．05）,分别为（26．39±1．10）％、（26．33±1．33）％和（24．54±1．12）％。这些结果表明乳鼠海马存在神经干细胞,并具有自我更新和多向分化的潜能,可用于基础和临床的相关研究。     

胎鼠脊髓神经干细胞分离方法的比较

目的：比较机械法和胰酶消化法对胎鼠脊髓源神经干细胞增殖分化的影响。方法：分别用机械法和胰酶消化法分离胎鼠脊髓组织获得神经干细胞,应用台盼蓝检测细胞成活率,用无血清培养技术培养神经干细胞,应用MTT法检测细胞分裂增殖能力．采用免疫细胞化学法鉴定神经干细胞和分化细胞。结果：机械法获得的细胞数量多于胰酶消化法。细胞经过培养其增殖能力机械法略强于胰酶消化法,但无统计学意义。培养形成的细胞球Nestin阳性,诱导分化后可见NSE和GFAP阳性细胞。结论：运用机械法比胰酶消化法分离胎鼠脊髓组织获得神经干细胞方法简单,容易操作,经过培养细胞增殖能力较强。并可提供健康的细胞来源。     

胎鼠脊髓源性神经干细胞分离培养与鉴定

目的:研究胎鼠的脊髓源性神经干细胞的分离培养方法并观察其增殖和分化能力。方法:利用显微操作技术分离获得胎鼠脊髓组织、无血清培养技术和酶消化法结合机械法传代培养神经干细胞、免疫细胞化学方法鉴定神经干细胞和分化情况。结果:建立了胎鼠脊髓源性神经干细胞的分离、培养和鉴定的方法,观察到了脊髓源性神经干细胞具有较强的增殖能力,在添加有5ng／mlEGF和5ng／mlbFGF的无血清培养液中可贴壁分化为神经元、少突细胞和星形胶质细胞。结论:在体外培养条件下分离培养的胎鼠脊髓源性神经干细胞具有干细胞的特性即较强的增殖能力和多向分化潜能。     

山羊胚胎大脑皮层神经干细胞分离、培养与鉴定

目的 :从山羊胚胎大脑皮层中分离培养并鉴定神经干细胞。方法 :利用NBS培养和单细胞克隆技术在山羊胚胎大脑皮层中分离出具有单细胞克隆能力的细胞 ,并进行培养、传代、分化观察 ,采用免疫组化检测克隆细胞的神经巢蛋白 (Nestin)抗原和分化后特异性成熟神经细胞抗原的表达。结果 :从胚龄 2 4～ 30d的新鲜山羊胚胎大脑皮层中成功分离出神经干细胞 ,该细胞具有连续克隆能力 ,可传代培养 ,表达神经巢蛋白抗原。分化后的细胞表达神经元细胞、胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞的特异性抗原。结论 :山羊胚胎大脑皮层中存在具有自我更新能力和多分化潜能的神经干细胞。     

HCMV感染抑制人海马神经干细胞分化

研究HCMV感染对体外培养的人海马源性神经干细胞(Neural stem cells,NSCs)分化的影响。体外分离、培养人海马NSCs,应用免疫荧光方法检测其NSCs标记物-巢蛋白(Nestin)的表达。10%胎牛血清诱导NSCs贴壁分化,同时用MOI为5的HCMV AD169株感染NSCs,7d后使用激光共聚焦显微镜免疫荧光方法检测Nestin、神经胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)和HCMV即刻早期蛋白(IE)的表达,计算阳性细胞比率。本实验所培养的细胞(4～6代)95±8%表达Nestin;分化诱导7d后,感染组86±12%细胞表达IE,未感染组和感染组Nestin阳性率分别为50±19%和93±10%(t=6.03,P<0.01),GFAP阳性细胞率分别为81±11%和55±17%(t=3.77,P<0.01)。以上结果表明分化过程中的NSCs是HCMV的容许细胞;HCMV感染可以抑制NSCs的分化。     

人嗅黏膜神经干细胞体外培养及氟西汀对其增殖和神经发生的影响

人嗅黏膜神经干细胞是新近发现的可用于神经精神疾病研究的良好材料,同时,抗抑郁治疗促进脑部神经干细胞增殖及向神经细胞转化。然而,嗅黏膜神经干细胞体外培养方法及抗抑郁药对其增殖及神经发生的影响尚不清楚。该研究采用组织块培养获取嗅细胞,神经球培养法纯化神经干细胞,Nestin免疫荧光验证神经干细胞特异性。加入促神经分化培养基诱导神经干细胞向神经细胞分化,MAP2(microtubule associated protein 2)、TUJ1(β3-tubulin)免疫荧光验证神经细胞特异性。采用CCK-8和蛋白质分子印记技术分别检测抗抑郁药对嗅黏膜神经干细胞增殖及分化的影响。结果显示,体外培养嗅黏膜神经干细胞呈球状聚集;Nestin、MAP2、TUJ1免疫荧光阳性;抗抑郁药促进嗅黏膜神经干细胞增殖、促进其向神经细胞转化,TUJ1表达上升。综上所述,抗郁药能够促进神经干细胞增殖及神经发生,可能为其抗抑郁治疗的机制之一。     

人骨髓间充质干细胞分化为运动神经元过程中Nestin与Hb9表达的研究

目的探讨全反式维甲酸(RA)与音猬因子(Shh)诱导人骨髓间充质干细胞向神经干细胞乃至运动神经元方向分化过程中Nestin与Hb9的表达变化情况。方法采用传至第3代的人骨髓间充质干细胞,经含有RA与Shh的诱导液处理后,应用免疫细胞化学及荧光定量PCR方法分析Nestin与Hb9表达的变化情况。结果人骨髓间充质干细胞经过RA与Shh诱导后Nestin与Hb9的表达明显高于未加RA与Shh的对照组及空白组。结论 hBMSC具有向神经干细胞乃至运动神经元方向分化的潜能,RA与Shh可以在体外诱导hBMSC定向向该方向分化。     

人胚胎干细胞分化为神经干细胞诱导方法的对比研究

目的探讨人胚胎干细胞分化为神经干细胞过程中,经拟胚体（embryonic body,EB）法和直接分化法的不同效率。方法人胚胎干细胞常规培养消化后,分为两组：A组,经EB法分化;B组,添加noggin和ITSFn直接分化法。倒置相差显微镜观察细胞形态变化,RT-PCR检测细胞各阶段标志物,免疫荧光及流式细胞仪观察两组细胞Nestin阳性细胞率。神经干细胞继续分化,免疫荧光、RT-PCR法检测MAP2、GFAP表达。结果RT-PCR检测到OCT4、nestin表达。B组nestin阳性细胞率明显高于A组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）,且诱导周期短于A组。神经干细胞继续分化,得到不同数量的神经元和胶质细胞,MAP2、GFAP分别阳性。结论在体外采用定向分化诱导,人胚胎干细胞不经EB,可直接定向分化为神经干细胞,且诱导效率比EB法高。因此直接分化法是一种经济实用的诱导方法。     

Genetic approach to track neural cell fate decisions using human embryonic stem cells

With their capability to undergo unlimited self-renewal and to differentiate into all cell types in the body, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise in human cell therapy. However, there are limited tools for easily identifying and isolating live hESC-derived cells. To track hESC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs), we applied homologous recombination to knock-in the mCherry gene into the Nestin locus of hESCs. This facilitated the genetic labeling of Nestin positive neural progenitor cells with mCherry. Our reporter system enables the visualization of neural induction from hESCs both in vitro (embryoid bodies) and in vivo (teratomas). This system also permits the identification of different neural subpopulations based on the intensity of our fluorescent reporter. In this context, a high level of mCherry expression showed enrichment for neural progenitors, while lower mCherry corresponded with more committed neural states. Combination of mCherry high expression with cell surface antigen staining enabled further enrichment of hESC-derived NPCs. These mCherry⁺NPCs could be expanded in culture and their differentiation resulted in a down-regulation of mCherry consistent with the loss of Nestin expression. Therefore, we have developed a fluorescent reporter system that can be used to trace neural differentiation events of hESCs.     

Neuronal and glial differentiation following culture of the human embryonic cortical stem cells

OBJECTIVE: To set up long-term in vitro culture system of the human neural stem cells (hNSC) and to study their biological properties. METHODS: Human fetuses aged about 20 weeks following spontaneous abortion were adopted. A serum-free medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor was used to make the hNSCs divide continuously in the culture. The growth curve of continually passaged cells was examined. The effects of long-term culture on the cell cycle, cell differentiation were analyzed. The cell cycles of these cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The cells from the human embryonic cortical tissue could be maintained and propagated in the presence of growth factors. Neurospheres were generated continually. Only one month after the primary culture, the precursors could be effectively discarded. The cells could be cultured for ten months. The cells had an exponential, consistent growth. The cell cycle analysis indicated that the hNSCs maintained remarkable proliferation. Upon differentiation, the hNSCs gave rise to mature cells. The multi-lineage potential of differentiation after different passages remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The hNSCs isolated from the human embryonic tissues retained their biological features after long-term culture in vitro.     

Neurogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor during germ layer formation of human embryonic stem cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, has been suggested as a modulator that is involved in neurogenesis as well as angiogenesis. Here, we directly examined the effect of VEGF on neuroectodermal differentiation using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). VEGF treatment upregulated the expression of neuroectodermal genes (Sox1 and Nestin) during germ layer formation in embryoid bodies (EBs) and efficiently increased the number of neural rosettes expressing both Pax6 and Nestin. The neural progenitors generated from VEGF-treated EBs further differentiated into cells that showed a similar pattern of gene expression observed in the development of dopaminergic neurons upon terminal differentiation. These results support the neurogenic effect of VEGF on hESC differentiation.     

Synaptically-competent neurons derived from canine embryonic stem cells by lineage selection with EGF and Noggin

Pluripotent stem cell lines have been generated in several domestic animal species; however, these lines traditionally show poor self-renewal and differentiation. Using canine embryonic stem cell (cESC) lines previously shown to have sufficient self-renewal capacity and potency, we generated and compared canine neural stem cell (cNSC) lines derived by lineage selection with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or Noggin along the neural default differentiation pathway, or by directed differentiation with retinoic acid (RA)-induced floating sphere assay. Lineage selection produced large populations of SOX2+ neural stem/progenitor cell populations and neuronal derivatives while directed differentiation produced few and improper neuronal derivatives. Primary canine neural lines were generated from fetal tissue and used as a positive control for differentiation and electrophysiology. Differentiation of EGF- and Noggin-directed cNSC lines in N2B27 with low-dose growth factors (BDNF/NT-3 or PDGFαα) produced phenotypes equivalent to primary canine neural cells including 3CB2+ radial progenitors, MOSP+ glia restricted precursors, VIM+/GFAP+ astrocytes, and TUBB3+/MAP2+/NFH+/SYN+ neurons. Conversely, induction with RA and neuronal differentiation produced inadequate putative neurons for further study, even though appropriate neuronal gene expression profiles were observed by RT-PCR (including Nestin, TUBB3, PSD95, STX1A, SYNPR, MAP2). Co-culture of cESC-derived neurons with primary canine fetal cells on canine astrocytes was used to test functional maturity of putative neurons. Canine ESC-derived neurons received functional GABA(A)- and AMPA-receptor mediated synaptic input, but only when co-cultured with primary neurons. This study presents established neural stem/progenitor cell populations and functional neural derivatives in the dog, providing the proof-of-concept required to translate stem cell transplantation strategies into a clinically relevant animal model.     

Oct-4, Rex-1, and Gata-4 expression in human MSC increase the differentiation efficiency but not hTERT expression

Micro-environment seems to exert an important influence on human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation and proliferative capacity in bone marrow as well as in culture ex vivo. Oct-4, Rex-1, and TERT genes are well-known for the maintenance of pluripotentiality differentiation and the proliferative capacity of embryonic stem cells. Some previous data report expression of these embryonic factors in selected clones from bone marrow adult stem cells. Our goal was to study expression of Oct-4, Rex-1, and TERT in primary cultured human MSC according to the serum concentration. In addition, we have studied the expression of Gata-4 since this factor plays a key role in organogenesis. We hypothesized that low serum concentration with appropriate growth factors may induce an undifferentiated status with a re-expression of embryonic factors and extend differentiation capacity. Thus, using a defined culture medium, we report on the increased expression of Oct-4, Rex-1, and Gata-4 in human MSC. We have correlated this expression to an increase in differentiation efficiency towards osteogenic and adipogenic phenotypes. Our data suggest that the culture medium used permits the emergence of adult stem cells with a high differentiation capacity and expression of embryonic factors. These cells may have important implications for cell therapy.     

Human neural progenitor cells derived from embryonic stem cells in feeder-free cultures

Derivation of human neural progenitors (hNP) from human embryonic stem (hES) cells in culture has been reported with the use of feeder cells or conditioned media. This introduces undefined components into the system, limiting the ability to precisely investigate the requirement for factors that control the process. Also, the use of feeder cells of non-human origin introduces the potential for zoonotic transmission, limiting its clinical usefulness. Here we report a feeder-free system to produce hNP from hES cells and test the effects of various media components involved in the process. Five protocols using defined media components were compared for efficiency of hNP generation. Based on this analysis, we discuss the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), N2 supplement, non-essential amino acids (NEAA), and knock-out serum replacement (KSR) on the process of hNP generation. All protocols led to down-regulation of Oct4/POU5F1 expression (from 90.5% to <3%), and up-regulation of neural progenitor markers to varying degrees. Media with N2 but not KSR and NEAA produced cultures with significantly higher (p<0.05) expression of the neural progenitor marker Musashi 1 (MSI1). Approximately 89% of these cells were Nestin (NES)+ after 3 weeks, but they did not proliferate. In contrast, differentiation media supplemented with KSR and NEAA produced fewer NES+ (75%) cells, but these cells were proliferative, and by five passages the culture consisted of >97% NES+ cells. This suggests that KSR and NEAA supplements did not enhance early differentiation but did promote proliferating of hNP cell cultures. This resulted in an efficient, robust, repeatable differentiation system suitable for generating large populations of hNP cells. This will facilitate further study of molecular and biochemical mechanisms in early human neural differentiation and potentially produce uniform neuronal cells for therapeutic uses without concern of zoonotic transmission from feeder layers.     

Behavior and Differentiation of the Neural Stem Cells in vivo

We studied the behavior and differentiation of human and rat neural stem cells after transplantation in the adult rat brain without immunosuppression. The rat stem cells were isolated from the presumptive neocortex of 15-day-old embryos. The human cells were isolated from the ventricular brain zone of 9-week-old embryos and cultivated for two weeks before transplantation. The results of histomorphological studies suggest that the microenvironment factors did not suppress the growth or development of transplanted stem cells. Both rat and human embryonic multipotent neural cells showed similar behavior and differentiation into neurons and glial cells. After transplantation, they continued to mitotically divide and migrated from the graft area to the surrounding tissue of a recipient brain. The presumptive glial cells migrated preferentially along the capillaries and fibrous structures of the recipient brain. Similar behavior of the rat and human neural stem cells in the microenvironment of the recipient adult rat brain and the absence of immune reaction suggest that the transplantation into the rat brain may serve as a model for studying the developmental biology of the human stem cells.