Transplantation of apoptosis-resistant embryonic stem cells into the injured rat spinal cord

Murine embryonic stem cells were induced to differentiate into neural lineage cells by exposure to retinoic acid. Approximately one million cells were transplanted into the lesion site in the spinal cords of adult rats which had received moderate contusion injuries 9 days previously. One group received transplants of cells genetically modified to over-express bcl-2, which codes for an anti-apoptotic protein. A second group received transplants of the wild-type ES cells from which the bcl-2 line was developed. In the untransplanted control group, only medium was injected. Locomotor abilities were assessed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) rating scale for 6 weeks. There was no incremental locomotor improvement in either transplant group when compared to control over the survival period. Morbidity and mortality were significantly more prevalent in the transplant groups than in controls. At the conclusion of the 6-week survival period, the spinal cords were examined. Two of six cords from the bcl-2 group and one of 12 cords from the wild-type group showed gross evidence of abnormal growths at the site of transplantation. No similar growth was seen in the control. Pathological examination of the abnormal cords showed very large numbers of undifferentiated cells proliferating at the injection site and extending up to 1.5?cm rostrally and caudally. These results suggest that transplanting KD3 ES cells, or apoptosis-resistant cells derived from the KD3 line, into the injured spinal cord does not improve locomotor recovery and can lead to tumor-like growth of cells, accompanied by increased debilitation, morbidity and mortality.     

Transplantation of apoptosis-resistant embryonic stem cells into the injured rat spinal cord

Murine embryonic stem cells were induced to differentiate into neural lineage cells by exposure to retinoic acid. Approximately one million cells were transplanted into the lesion site in the spinal cords of adult rats which had received moderate contusion injuries 9 days previously. One group received transplants of cells genetically modified to over-express bcl-2, which codes for an anti-apoptotic protein. A second group received transplants of the wild-type ES cells from which the bcl-2 line was developed. In the untransplanted control group, only medium was injected. Locomotor abilities were assessed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) rating scale for 6 weeks. There was no incremental locomotor improvement in either transplant group when compared to control over the survival period. Morbidity and mortality were significantly more prevalent in the transplant groups than in controls. At the conclusion of the 6-week survival period, the spinal cords were examined. Two of six cords from the bcl-2 group and one of 12 cords from the wild-type group showed gross evidence of abnormal growths at the site of transplantation. No similar growth was seen in the control. Pathological examination of the abnormal cords showed very large numbers of undifferentiated cells proliferating at the injection site and extending up to 1.5 cm rostrally and caudally. These results suggest that transplanting KD3 ES cells, or apoptosis-resistant cells derived from the KD3 line, into the injured spinal cord does not improve locomotor recovery and can lead to tumor-like growth of cells, accompanied by increased debilitation, morbidity and mortality.     

Transplantation of neural stem cells into the spinal cord after injury

Thanks to advances in the stem cell biology of the central nervous system (CNS), the previously inconceivable regeneration of the damaged CNS is approaching reality. The availability of signals to induce the appropriate differentiation of the transplanted and/or endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) as well as the timing of the transplantation are important for successful functional recovery of the damaged CNS. Because the immediately post-traumatic microenvironment of the spinal cord is in an acute inflammatory stage, it is not favorable for the survival and differentiation of NSC transplants. On the other hand, in the chronic stage after injury, glial scars form in the injured site that inhibit the regeneration of neuronal axons. Thus, we believe that the optimal timing of transplantation is 1-2 weeks after injury.     

Mimicking the neurotrophic factor profile of embryonic spinal cord controls the differentiation potential of spinal progenitors into neuronal cells

Recent studies have indicated that the choice of lineage of neural progenitor cells is determined, at least in part, by environmental factors, such as neurotrophic factors. Despite extensive studies using exogenous neurotrophic factors, the effect of endogenous neurotrophic factors on the differentiation of progenitor cells remains obscure. Here we show that embryonic spinal cord derived-progenitor cells express both ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA before differentiation. BDNF gene expression significantly decreases with their differentiation into the specific lineage, whereas CNTF gene expression significantly increases. The temporal pattern of neurotrophic factor gene expression in progenitor cells is similar to that of the spinal cord during postnatal development. Approximately 50% of spinal progenitor cells differentiated into astrocytes. To determine the effect of endogenous CNTF on their differentiation, we neutralized endogenous CNTF by administration of its polyclonal antibody. Neutralization of endogenous CNTF inhibited the differentiation of progenitor cells into astrocytes, but did not affect the numbers of neurons or oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, to mimic the profile of neurotrophic factors in the spinal cord during embryonic development, we applied BDNF or neurotrophin (NT)-3 exogenously in combination with the anti-CNTF antibody. The exogenous application of BDNF or NT-3 promoted the differentiation of these cells into neurons or oligodendrocytes, respectively. These findings suggest that endogenous CNTF and exogenous BDNF and NT-3 play roles in the differentiation of embryonic spinal cord derived progenitor cells into astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes, respectively.     

Human gingival derived neuronal cells in the optimized caffeic acid hydrogel for hemitransection spinal cord injury model

Spinal cord injury induces scar formation causes axonal damage that leads to the degeneration of axonal function. Still, there is no robust conceptual design to regenerate the damaged axon after spinal injury. Therefore, the present study demonstrates that human gingival derived neuronal stem cells (GNSCs) transplants in the injectable caffeic acid bioconjugated hydrogel (CBGH) helps to bridge the cavity and promote the engraftment and repopulation of transplants in the injured spinal tissue. Our study reports that the bioluminescence imaging in vivo imaging system (IVIS) provides a satisfactory progression in CBGH-GNSCs transplants compare to lesion control and CBGH alone. Immune regulators interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α, neutrophil elastase are decreased, IL-10 is increased. Likewise, immunostaining (TAU/TUJ-1, SOX-2/NeuN, MAP-2/PSD93, NSE, S100b, and GFAP) shown repopulated cells. Also, TRA-1-81 expression confirms the absence of immune rejection in the CBGH-GNSCs transplants. However, locomotor recovery test, gene (IL-6, CASPASE3, p14-ARF, VEGF, LCAM, BDNF, NT3, NGN2, TrKc, FGF2, Sox-2, TUJ-1, MAP-2, Nestin, and NeuN) and protein expression (TAU, TUJ-1, SOX-2 MAP-2, PSD93, NeuN, TRA-1-81, GFAP, TAU, and MBP) shows functional improvements in the CBGH-GNSCs group. Further, GABA and glutamine level demonstrates the new synaptic vesicle formation. Hence, the CBGH scaffold enhances GNSCs transplants to restore the injured spinal tissue.     

NADPH-d and Fos reactivity in the rat spinal cord following experimental spinal cord injury and embryonic neural stem cell transplantation

AimsThe aim of this study is to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in neuropathic pain and the effect of embryonic neural stem cell (ENSC) transplantation on NO content in rat spinal cord neurons following spinal cord injury (SCI).Main methodsNinety adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 30, each): control (laminectomy), SCI (hemisection at T12–T13 segments) and SCI + ENSC. Each group was further divided into sub-groups (n = 5 each) based on the treatment substance (L-NAME, 75 mg/kg/i.p.; l-arginine, 225 mg/kg/i.p.; physiological saline, SF) and duration (2 h for acute and 28 days for chronic groups). Pain was assessed by tail flick and Randall–Selitto tests. Fos immunohistochemistry and NADPH-d histochemistry were performed in segments 2 cm rostral and caudal to SCI.Key findingsTail-flick latency time increased in both acute and chronic L-NAME groups and increased in acute and decreased in chronic l-arginine groups. The number of Fos (+) neurons decreased in acute and chronic L-NAME and decreased in acute l-arginine groups. Following ENSC, Fos (+) neurons did not change in acute L-NAME but decreased in the chronic L-NAME groups, and decreased in both acute and chronic l-arginine groups. NADPH-d (+) neurons decreased in acute L-NAME and increased in l-arginine groups with and without ENSC transplantation.SignificanceThis study confirms the role of NO in neuropathic pain and shows an improvement following ENSC transplantation in the acute phase, observed as a decrease in Fos(+) and NADPH-d (+) neurons in spinal cord segments rostral and caudal to injury.     

Derivation of high purity neuronal progenitors from human embryonic stem cells

The availability of human neuronal progenitors (hNPs) in high purity would greatly facilitate neuronal drug discovery and developmental studies, as well as cell replacement strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and conditions, such as spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease. Here we describe for the first time a method for producing hNPs in large quantity and high purity from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in feeder-free conditions, without the use of exogenous noggin, sonic hedgehog or analogs, rendering the process clinically compliant. The resulting population displays characteristic neuronal-specific markers. When allowed to spontaneously differentiate into neuronal subtypes in vitro, cholinergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic and/or noradrenergic, and medium spiny striatal neurons were observed. When transplanted into the injured spinal cord the hNPs survived, integrated into host tissue, and matured into a variety of neuronal subtypes. Our method of deriving neuronal progenitors from hESCs renders the process amenable to therapeutic and commercial use.     

Neuroectodermal stem cells: A remyelinating potential in acute compressed spinal cord injury in rat model

The outcomes of compressed spinal cord injury (CSCI) necessitate radical treatment. The therapeutic potential of neuroectodermal stem cells (NESCs) in a rat model of CSCI in acute and subacute stages was assessed. White Wistar rat were divided into control, sham-operated, CSCI untreated model, CSCI grafted with NESCs at 1 day after CSCI, and at 7 days after CSCI. Primary NESC cultures were prepared from brains of embryonic day 10 (E10) mice embryos. NESCs were transplanted at the site of injury using a Hamilton syringe. Locomotor functional assessment, routine histopathology, immunostaining for (GFAP), and ultrastructure techniques for evaluating the CSI were conducted. In CSCI, areas of hemorrhage, cavitation, reactive astrocytosis, upregulated GFAP expression of immunostained areas, degeneration of the axoplasm and demyelination were observed. One day after grafting with NESCs, a decrease in astrocyte reaction and pathological features, quantitative and qualitative enhancement of remyelination and improved locomotor activity were observed. Treatment with NESCs at 7 days after CSCI did not mitigatethe reactive astrocytosis and glial scar formation that hindered the ability of the NESCs to enhance remyelination of axons. In conclusion, the microenvironment and time of NESCs transplantation affect activity of astrocytes and remyelination of axons.     

移植骨髓间充质干细胞源性神经元样细胞治疗大鼠脊髓损伤

目的:研究骨髓间充质干细胞源性神经元样细胞移植治疗成鼠脊髓损伤的可行性。方法:选取成年SD大鼠32只,两只用以提取骨髓间充质干细胞,其余被分为3组,其中细胞移植组10只,PBS缓冲液组10只,空白对照组10只。骨髓间充质干细胞分离传代培养并诱导成神经元样细胞后用Hoechst33342标记,损伤1周后采取静脉注射移植的方法移植于大鼠脊髓损伤区,移植六周后用免疫荧光方法检测细胞的存活及与宿主脊髓的整合情况。脊髓损伤后的1~6周对各组动物进行BBB评分,用SPSS12.0进行数据分析。结果:细胞移植组动物的BBB评分提高显著,于其他两组差异有统计学意义。细胞移植组免疫荧光显示,移植细胞在体内大量存活并桥接于脊髓损伤区的两端,存活的多数细胞神经元特异性标记物NSE、NF-200、星形胶质细胞特异性标记物GFAP表达呈阳性。结论:移植定向诱导的神经元样细胞有助于大鼠脊髓损伤后的功能恢复。     

Transplanted embryonic stem cells survive, differentiate and promote recovery in injured rat spinal cord

Transplantation approaches using cellular bridges, fetal central nervous system cells, fibroblasts expressing neurotrophin-3 (ref. 6), hybridoma cells expressing inhibitory protein-blocking antibodies, or olfactory nerves ensheathing glial cells transplanted into the acutely injured spinal cord have produced axonal regrowth or functional benefits. Transplants of rat or cat fetal spinal cord tissue into the chronically injured cord survive and integrate with the host cord, and may be associated with some functional improvements. In addition, rats transplanted with fetal spinal cord cells have shown improvements in some gait parameters, and the delayed transplantation of fetal raphe cells can enhance reflexes. We transplanted neural differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells into a rat spinal cord 9 days after traumatic injury. Histological analysis 2-5 weeks later showed that transplant-derived cells survived and differentiated into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons, and migrated as far as 8 mm away from the lesion edge. Furthermore, gait analysis demonstrated that transplanted rats showed hindlimb weight support and partial hindlimb coordination not found in 'sham-operated' controls or control rats transplanted with adult mouse neocortical cells.     

Developmental potential of defined neural progenitors derived from mouse embryonic stem cells

The developmental potential of a uniform population of neural progenitors was tested by implanting them into chick embryos. These cells were generated from retinoic acid-treated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, and were used to replace a segment of the neural tube. At the time of implantation, the progenitors expressed markers defining them as Pax6-positive radial glial (RG) cells, which have recently been shown to generate most pyramidal neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. Six days after implantation, the progenitors generated large numbers of neurons in the spinal cord, and differentiated into interneurons and motoneurons at appropriate locations. They also colonized the host dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and differentiated into neurons, but, unlike stem cell-derived motoneurons, they failed to elongate axons out of the DRG. In addition, they neither expressed the DRG marker Brn3a nor the Trk neurotrophin receptors. Control experiments with untreated ES cells indicated that when colonizing the DRG, these cells did elongate axons and expressed Brn3a, as well as Trk receptors. Our results thus indicate that ES cell-derived progenitors with RG characteristics generate neurons in the spinal cord and the DRG. They are able to respond appropriately to local cues in the spinal cord, but not in the DRG, indicating that they are restricted in their developmental potential.     

胚胎大鼠脑和脊髓神经干细胞的分离和培养

研究采用显微解剖、无血清细胞培养和免疫荧光细胞化学染色等实验技术 ,成功地建立了胚胎大鼠脑和脊髓神经干细胞 (NSCs)的分离和培养方法。结果显示 ,( 1)在含成纤维细胞生长因子 2 (FGF 2 )和表皮生长因子(EGF)的无血清培养液中 ,两种来源的NSCs经体外培养 8- 10代后 ,其细胞数呈指数级增加 ,其中脑来源的NSCs数由原代培养时的 1× 10 6 增加至 1× 10 12 ,脊髓来源的NSCs数从 1× 10 6 增加至 1× 10 11。增殖的细胞表达神经上皮干细胞蛋白 (nestin) ;( 2 )在含 1%胎牛血清 (FBS)的培养条件下 ,它们都能被诱导分化为神经元、少突胶质细胞和星型胶质细胞。但其分化比例可随细胞传代次数的增加而改变 ,其中 ,大脑来源的NSCs分化为神经元的比例从第二代 (P2 )的 11 95± 2 5 %下降至第五代 (P5)的 1 97± 1 16% (P <0 0 1) ,而少突胶质细胞的分化比例则基本保持不变 ,这一分化格局同样可在脊髓来源的NSCs中发现。结果表明 ,我们所分离和培养的细胞在体外经多次传代后仍具有很强的增殖能力和多向分化潜能 ,它们都表达nestin ,属于中枢神经系统的干细胞     

Mesenchymal-like progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells promote recovery from acute kidney injury via paracrine actions

Background aimsThe engraftment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is reported to promote recovery of renal function in animal models of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, it is unknown whether mesenchymal-like progenitors (MPs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can mediate similar therapeutic effects. We investigated the responses of recipient renal tissue to engraftment of hESC-MPs and underlying mechanisms of these effects.MethodsWe measured blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels of AKI mice with hESC-MPs transplantation and control mice. We performed renal morphology analysis by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to confirm the renoprotective effects of engrafted hESC-MPs. Proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression of tubular cells were also monitored by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to investigate the mechanisms that occurred.ResultsAfter transplantation of hESC-MPs into mice with cisplatin-induced AKI, improvements in renal function and recovery from tubular epithelial cell injury were observed. Engrafted hESC-MPs were localized to areas of injured kidney 5 days after cisplatin induction, where they promoted tubular cell proliferation and decreased kidney cell apoptosis. The beneficial effect was further confirmed by the capability of the engrafted cells to up-regulate renal gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and pro-survival cytokines. Meanwhile, infusion of these cells reduced renal gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, a chemokine that stimulates monocyte and macrophage infiltration.ConclusionsOur results show that infused hESC-MPs may promote recovery from AKI by regulating related cytokines.     

Neuregulin-1 increases the proliferation of neuronal progenitors from embryonic neural stem cells

Neuregulins are a family of proteins expressed in the developing brain and in brain regions that continue to undergo neurogenesis in adult animals. We investigated the effects of neuregulins on embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from E11 mouse telencephalon. Treatment of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-expanded neurosphere cultures with the EGF-like domain of neuregulin1-beta1 (NRG-1(177-244)) resulted in a 4-fold increase of bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU)-labeled cells, suggesting that NRG-1 stimulated proliferation. The majority of the BrdU-positive cells co-labeled with an antibody against MAP2, indicating that the proliferating cells were neuronal. No BrDU labeling was seen in GFAP- or O4-positive cells. In NRG-1-treated cultures, many of the MAP2-positive cells co-labeled with an anti-nestin antibody, suggesting that these cells are neuron-restricted progenitors (NRPs). Few MAP2/nestin-positive cells were seen in control cultures. The increase in the number of neuronal cells in NRG-1-treated cultures was due to increased proliferation of MAP2-positive cells rather than the regulation of cell survival or fate determination. These results suggest that neuregulins are mitogenic to NRPs, thus endogenous neuregulins may play important roles during CNS neurogenesis.     

Target populations for first-in-human embryonic stem cell research in spinal cord injury

Geron recently announced that it had begun enrolling patients in the world's first-in-human clinical trial involving cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). This trial raises important questions regarding the future of hESC-based therapies, especially in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. We address some safety and efficacy concerns with this research, as well as the ethics of fair subject selection. We consider other populations that might be better for this research: chronic complete SCI patients for a safety trial, subacute incomplete SCI patients for an efficacy trial, and perhaps primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients for a combined safety and efficacy trial.     

Dopamine neurons derived from embryonic stem cells efficiently induce behavioral recovery in a Parkinsonian rat model

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis serine/threonine protein kinases are attractive potential drug targets, and protein kinase D (PknD) is particularly interesting, as it is autophosphorylated on 11 residues, binds proteins containing forkhead associated domains, and contains a beta-propeller motif that likely functions as an anchoring sensor domain. We created a pknD knockout of a clinical M. tuberculosis isolate, and found that on in vitro phosphorylation of cell wall fractions it lacked a family of phosphorylated polypeptides seen in the WT. Mass spectrometry identified the phosphorylated polypeptides as MmpL7, a transporter of the RND family. MmpL7 is essential for virulence, presumably because it transports polyketide virulence factors such as phthiocerol dimycocerosate (PDIM) to the cell wall. Phosphorylation of the MmpL family of transporters has not been previously described, but these results suggest that PknD, and perhaps other serine/threonine kinases, could regulate their critical role in the formation of the M. tuberculosis envelope.     

Transplantation of miR-219 overexpressed human endometrial stem cells encapsulated in fibrin hydrogel in spinal cord injury

Oligodendrocyte (OL) loss and demyelination occur after spinal cord injury (SCI). Stimulation of remyelination through transplantation of myelinating cells may be effective in improving function. For the repair strategy to be successful, the selection of a suitable cell and maintaining cell growth when cells are injected directly to the site of injury is important. In addition to selecting the type of cell, fibrin hydrogel was used as a suitable tissue engineering scaffold for this purpose. To test the relationship between myelination and functional improvement, the human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) were differentiated toward oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) using overexpression of miR-219. Adult female Wistar rats were used to induce SCI by using a compression model and were randomly assigned to the following four experimental groups: SCI, Vehicle, hEnSC, and OPC. Ten days after injury, miR-219 overexpressed hEnSC-derived OPCs encapsulated in fibrin hydrogel, as an injectable scaffold, were injected to the injury site. In this study, with a focus on promoting functional recovery after SCI, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan test was performed to evaluate the recovery of motor function every week for 10 weeks and the histological assay was then performed. Results showed that the rate of motor function recovery was significantly higher in OPC group compared to SCI and vehicle groups but no marked differences were found between OPC and hEnSC groups, although, the rate of myelination in the OPC group was significantly higher than the other groups. These results demonstrated that remyelination was not the cause of recovery of motor function.     

Endothelial reconstitution by CD34+ progenitors derived from baboon embryonic stem cells

In this study, we used a large non‐human primate model, the baboon, to establish a step‐wise protocol to generate CD34+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and to demonstrate their reparative effects. Baboon ESCs were sequentially differentiated from embryoid body cultures for 9 days and then were specified into EPCs by culturing them in monolayer for 12 days. The resulting EPCs expressed CD34, CXCR4 and UEA‐1, but neither CD31 nor CD117. The EPCs were able to form intact lumen structures when seeded on Matrigel, took up Dil‐LDL, and responded to TNF‐α. Angioblasts specified in EGM‐2 medium and ECGS medium had 6.41 ± 1.16% (n = 3) and 9.32 ± 3.73% CD34+ cells (n = 3). The efficiency of generating CD34+ EPCs did not differ significantly from ECGS to EGM‐2 culture media, however, angioblasts specified in ECGS medium expressed a higher percentage of CD34+/CXCR4+ cells (3.49 ± 1.32%, n = 3) than those specified in EGM‐2 medium (0.49 ± 0.52%, n = 3). To observe their reparative capacity, we purified CD34+ progenitors after specification by EGM‐2 medium; inoculated fluorescently labelled CD34+ EPCs into an arterial segment denuded of endothelium in an ex vivo system. After 14 days of ex vivo culture, the grafted cells had attached and integrated to the denuded surface; in addition, they had matured further and expressed terminally differentiated endothelial markers including CD31 and CD146. In conclusion, we have proved that specified CD34+ EPCs are promising therapeutic agents for repairing damaged vasculature.