BMP4 induction of sensory neurons from human embryonic stem cells and reinnervation of sensory epithelium

In mammals, hair cells and auditory neurons lack the capacity to regenerate, and damage to either cell type can result in hearing loss. Replacement cells for regeneration could potentially be made by directed differentiation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells. To generate sensory neurons from hES cells, neural progenitors were first made by suspension culture of hES cells in a defined medium. The cells were positive for nestin, a neural progenitor marker, and Pax2, a marker for cranial placodes, and were negative for alpha-fetoprotein, an endoderm marker. The precursor cells could be expanded in vitro in fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2. Neurons and glial cells were found after differentiation of the neural progenitors by removal of FGF-2, but evaluation of neuronal markers indicated insignificant production of sensory neurons. Addition of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) to neural progenitors upon removal of FGF-2, however, induced significant numbers of neurons that were positive for markers associated with cranial placodes and neural crest, the sources of sensory neurons in the embryo. Neuronal processes from hES cell-derived neurons made contacts with hair cells in denervated ex vivo sensory epithelia and expressed synaptic markers, suggesting the formation of synapses. In a gerbil model with a denervated cochlea, the ES cell-derived neurons engrafted in the auditory nerve trunk and sent out neurites that grew toward the auditory sensory epithelium. These data indicate that hES cells can be induced to form sensory neurons that have the potential to treat neural degeneration associated with sensorineural hearing loss.     

Pluripotent stem cell‐derived radial glia‐like cells as stable intermediate for efficient generation of human oligodendrocytes

Neural precursor cells (NPCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent an attractive tool for the in vitro generation of various neural cell types. However, the developmentally early NPCs emerging during hPSC differentiation typically show a strong propensity for neuronal differentiation, with more limited potential for generating astrocytes and, in particular, for generating oligodendrocytes. This phenomenon corresponds well to the consecutive and protracted generation of neurons and GLIA during normal human development. To obtain a more gliogenic NPC type, we combined growth factor‐mediated expansion with pre‐exposure to the differentiation‐inducing agent retinoic acid and subsequent immunoisolation of CD133‐positive cells. This protocol yields an adherent and self‐renewing population of hindbrain/spinal cord radial glia (RG)‐like neural precursor cells (RGL‐NPCs) expressing typical neural stem cell markers such as nestin, ASCL1, SOX2, and PAX6 as well as RG markers BLBP, GLAST, vimentin, and GFAP. While RGL‐NPCs maintain the ability for tripotential differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, they exhibit greatly enhanced propensity for oligodendrocyte generation. Under defined differentiation conditions promoting the expression of the major oligodendrocyte fate‐determinants OLIG1/2, NKX6.2, NKX2.2, and SOX10, RGL‐NPCs efficiently convert into NG2‐positive oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPCs) and are subsequently capable of in vivo myelination. Representing a stable intermediate between PSCs and OPCs, RGL‐NPCs expedite the generation of PSC‐derived oligodendrocytes with O4‐, 4860‐, and myelin basic protein (MBP)‐positive cells that already appear within 7 weeks following growth factor withdrawal‐induced differentiation. Thus, RGL‐NPCs may serve as robust tool for time‐efficient generation of human oligodendrocytes from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. GLIA 2015;63:2152–2167     

Enrichment of Neurons and Neural Precursors from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells proliferate and maintain their pluripotency for over a year in vitro (M. Amit, M. K. Carpenter, M. S. Inokuma, C. P. Chiu, C. P., Harris, M. A. Waknitz, J. Itskovitz-Eldor, and J. A. Thomson. 2000. Dev. Biol. 227: 271-278) and may therefore provide a cell source for cell therapies. hES cells were maintained for over 6 months in vitro (over 100 population doublings) before their ability to differentiate into the neural lineage was evaluated. Differentiation was induced by the formation of embryoid bodies that were subsequently plated onto appropriate substrates in defined medium containing mitogens. These populations contained cells that showed positive immunoreactivity to nestin, polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PS-NCAM) and A2B5. After further maturation, these cells expressed additional neuron-specific antigens (such as MAP-2, synaptophysin, and various neurotransmitters). Calcium imaging demonstrated that these cells responded to neurotransmitter application. Electrophysiological analyses showed that cell membranes contained voltage-dependent channels and that action potentials were triggered by current injection. PS-NCAM and A2B5 immunoselection or culture conditions could be used to produce enriched populations (60-90%) which could be further differentiated into mature neurons. The properties of the hES-derived progenitors and neurons were found to be similar to those of cells derived from primary tissue. These data indicate that hES cells could provide a cell source for the neural progenitor cells and mature neurons for therapeutic and toxicological uses.     

Further characterization of embryonic stem cell-derived radial glial cells

Previously, we showed that radial glia-like (RG) cells differentiated from embryonic stem (ES) cells after retinoic acid induction (Liour and Yu, 2003: Glia 42:109-117). In the present study, we demonstrate that the production of RG cells from ES cells is independent of the neural differentiation protocol used. These ES cell-derived RG (ES-RG) cells are similar in morphology to RG cells in vivo and express several characteristic RG cell markers. The processes of these ES-RG cells are organized into radial arrays similar to the RG scaffold in developing CNS. Expression of Pax6, along with other circumstantial data, suggests that at least some of these ES-RG cells are neural progenitors. The progression of neurogenesis into gliogenesis during the in vitro neural differentiation of ES cells recapitulates the in vivo developmental process. The identification of two cell surface markers, SSEA-1 and GM1, on both the native embryonic RG cells and ES-RG cells, may facilitate purification of radial glial cells for future studies and cell therapy. Overall, our study suggests that differentiation of radial glial cells is a common pathway during the neural differentiation of ES cells.     

Growth and differentiation of neural stem cells in a three-dimensional collagen gel scaffold

Collagen protein is an ideal scaffold material for the transplantation of neural stem cells. In this study, rat neural stem cells were seeded into a three-dimensional collagen gel scaffold, with suspension cultured neural stem cells being used as a control group. Neural stem cells, which were cultured in medium containing epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor, actively expanded and formed neurospheres in both culture groups. In serum-free medium conditions, the processes extended from neurospheres in the collagen gel group were much longer than those in the suspension culture group. Immunofluorescence staining showed that neurospheres cultured in collagen gels were stained positive for nestin and differentiated cells were stained positive for the neuronal marker βIII-tubulin, the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein and the oligodendrocytic marker 2’,3’-cyclic nucleotide 3’-phosphodiesterase. Compared with neurospheres cultured in suspension, the differentiation potential of neural stem cells cultured in collagen gels increased, with the formation of neurons at an early stage. Our results show that the three-dimensional collagen gel culture system is superior to suspension culture in the proliferation, differentiation and process outgrowth of neural stem cells.     

Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursors develop into neurons and integrate into the host brain

Whether and how in-vitro-produced human neural precursors mature and integrate into the brain are crucial to the utility of human embryonic stem (hES) cells in treating neurological disorders. After transplantation into the ventricles of neonatal immune-deficient mice, hES-cell-derived neural precursors stopped expressing the cell division marker Ki67, except in neurogenic areas, and differentiated into neurons and then glia in a temporal course intrinsic to that of human cells regardless of location. The human cells located in the gray matter became neurons in the olfactory bulb and striatum, whereas those in the white matter produced exclusively glia. Importantly, the grafted human cells formed synapses. Thus, the in-vitro-produced human neural precursors follow their intrinsic temporal program to produce neurons and glia and, in response to environmental signals, generate cells appropriate to their target regions and integrate into the brain.     

A protocol for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into dopaminergic neurons using only chemically defined human additives: Studies in vitro and in vivo

Our ability to use human embryonic stem (hES) cells in cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease depends on the discovery of ways to simply and reliably differentiate a dopaminergic (DA) phenotype in these cells. Although several protocols exist for the differentiation of DA traits in hES, they involve the prolonged use of complex media with undefined components, cell conditioned media and/or co-culture with various cells, usually of animal origin. In this study, several well-characterized (H9, BG01) and several new uncharacterized (HUES7, HUES8) hES cell lines were studied for their capacity to differentiate into DA neurons in culture using a novel rapid protocol which uses only chemically-defined human-derived media additives and substrata. Within 3 weeks, cells from all 4 cell lines progressed from the undifferentiated state to beta-tubulin III positive cells expressing DA markers in vitro. Moreover, transplantation of these cells into the striata of 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats at the neuronal progenitor stage resulted in the appearance of differentiated DA traits in vivo 2-3 weeks later.     

Derivation of embryonic stem cell line from frozen human embryos and neural differentiation

We established a human embryonic stem cell line derived from frozen human embryos of Chinese origin. The cell line expressed the pluripotent markers SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, Oct-4, and alkaline phosphatase. The pluripotency of the cell line was also demonstrated in vivo by teratoma formation in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. The embryonic stem cells formed embryoid bodies after culturing in suspension for 7 days. The embryoid bodies were transferred to an adherent culture system in serum-free medium. The differentiating cells derived from the embryoid bodies expressed Nestin and Sox2, markers of neural progenitor cells. After the induction of cyclic AMP for 7 days, the neural progenitor cells had differentiated into neurons and glial cells.     

Wnt signaling regulates proliferation and differentiation of radial glia in regenerative processes after stab injury in the optic tectum of adult zebrafish

Zebrafish have superior abilities to generate new neurons in the adult brain and to regenerate brain tissue after brain injury compared with mammals. There exist two types of neural stem cells (NSCs): neuroepithelial‐like stem cells (NE) and radial glia (RG) in the optic tectum. We established an optic tectum stab injury model to analyze the function of NSCs in the regenerative condition and confirmed that the injury induced the proliferation of RG, but not NE and that the proliferated RG differentiated into new neurons after the injury. We then analyzed the involvement of Wnt signaling after the injury, using a Wnt reporter line in which canonical Wnt signaling activation induced GFP expression and confirmed that GFP expression was induced specifically in RG after the injury. We also analyzed the expression level of genes related to Wnt signaling, and confirmed that endogenous Wnt antagonist dkk1b expression was significantly decreased after the injury. We observed that Wnt signal inhibitor IWR1 treatment suppressed the proliferation and differentiation of RG after the injury, suggesting that up‐regulation of Wnt signaling in RG after the stab injury was required for optic tectum regeneration. We also confirmed that Wnt activation by treatment with GSK3β inhibitor BIO in uninjured zebrafish induced proliferation of RG in the optic tectum. This optic tectum stab injury model is useful for the study of the molecular mechanisms of brain regeneration and analysis of the RG functions in physiological and regenerative conditions.     

Adult human spinal cord harbors neural precursor cells that generate neurons and glial cells in vitro

Adult human and rodent brains contain neural stem and progenitor cells, and the presence of neural stem cells in the adult rodent spinal cord has also been described. Here, using electron microscopy, expression of neural precursor cell markers, and cell culture, we investigated whether neural precursor cells are also present in adult human spinal cord. In well-preserved nonpathological post-mortem human adult spinal cord, nestin, Sox2, GFAP, CD15, Nkx6.1, and PSA-NCAM were found to be expressed heterogeneously by cells located around the central canal. Ultrastructural analysis revealed the existence of immature cells close to the ependymal cells, which display characteristics of type B and C cells found in the adult rodent brain subventricular region, which are considered to be stem and progenitor cells, respectively. Completely dissociated spinal cord cells reproducibly formed Sox2(+) nestin(+) neurospheres containing proliferative precursor cells. On differentiation, these generate glial cells and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons. These results provide the first evidence for the existence in the adult human spinal cord of neural precursors with the potential to differentiate into neurons and glia. They represent a major interest for endogenous regeneration of spinal cord after trauma and in degenerative diseases.     

Neural conversion of human embryonic stem cell colonies in the presence of fibroblast growth factor-2

Pluripotency and the capability for unlimited self-renewal make human embryonic stem cells a promising tool for studying development and new cell replacement strategies. Here, we present a simple differentiation protocol, which permits the direct conversion of human embryonic stem cells into neurogenic precursors without formation of embryoid bodies or coculture with other cell types. In this protocol, human embryonic stem cells propagated as adherent cultures are induced to differentiate into the neural lineage in media containing fibroblast growth factor-2. The adherent cells are proliferated to form detaching neurospheres. Upon plating, these neurospheres give rise to a homogenous population of neural precursors capable of generating neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Our findings suggest that fibroblast growth factor-2 exposure alone suffices to promote neural conversion of adherently growing human embryonic stem cell cultures.     

大鼠胎脑神经干细胞的培养分化及鉴定的实验研究

目的建立大鼠胎脑皮质神经干细胞的培养、扩增、诱导分化及鉴定的方法。方法选取孕14d胎鼠的大脑皮质作为细胞来源,在无血清培养基中添加B27、碱性成纤维细胞因子、表皮生长因子,建立胚胎神经干细胞的体外培养体系,用5%的胎牛血清诱导神经干细胞分化,用免疫荧光染色技术进行对神经干细胞及诱导分化细胞的鉴定。结果原代培养的神经干细胞折光性强,培养第2d开始形成细胞集落,第3d形成大的神经球。3～5代传代的细胞生长稳定。经胎牛血清诱导后第3d开始,神经球开始向周边发出突起,悬浮的细胞开始贴壁生长。原代及传代培养的神经球表达Nestin阳性,分化细胞分别表达NSE、GFAP和GALC阳性。结论应用无血清培养技术可在体外培养、扩增出神经干细胞。5%的胎牛血清可以诱导神经干细胞向神经元、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞等成熟细胞分化。     

Long-term tripotent differentiation capacity of human neural stem (NS) cells in adherent culture

Stem cell lines that provide a renewable and scaleable supply of central nervous system cell types would constitute an invaluable resource for basic and applied neurobiology. Here we describe the generation and long-term expansion of multiple human foetal neural stem (NS) cell lines in monolayer culture without genetic immortalization. Adherent human NS cells are propagated in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), under which conditions they stably express neural precursor markers and exhibit negligible differentiation into neurons or glia. However, they produce astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons upon exposure to appropriate differentiation factors. Single cell cloning demonstrates that human NS cells are tripotent. They retain a diploid karyotype and constant neurogenic capacity after over 100 generations. In contrast to human neurospheres, we observe no requirement for the cytokine leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) for continued expansion of adherent human NS cells. Human NS cells can be stably transfected to provide reporter lines and readily imaged in live monolayer cultures, creating the potential for high content genetic and chemical screens.     

Astrocytes enhance long-term survival of cholinergic neurons differentiated from human fetal neural stem cells

Establishment of an in vitro model of human cholinergic neurons would be highly desirable for understanding and developing treatment for Alzheimer's and motoneuron diseases. Previously we reported that the combination of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), heparin, and laminin directs human fetal neural stem cells to form cholinergic neurons. One problem, however, is that long-term in vitro survival of these cells is low. Our goal for this study was to determine whether astrocytes or their secreted factors enhance differentiation and survival of cholinergic neurons under long-term differentiation conditions. We demonstrate here that astrocytes or astrocyte conditioned media did not enhance cholinergic differentiation but did increase the long-term survival of differentiated human neural stem cells, particularly cholinergic neurons. We further show that astrocytes protected long-term-differentiated cells from apoptotic cell death, which is at least partially mediated by astrocyte-secreted bFGF. Our findings indicate that long-term survival of human stem cell-derived cholinergic neurons requires trophic factors from nonneuronal cells. This data may provide insights into the development of an in vitro model of long-term cultured human cholinergic neurons useful for understanding of the mechanisms of cholinergic differentiation and developing treatments for neurological diseases.     

人胚脑与脊髓神经干细胞体外生物学特性的差异

目的:探讨人胚脑源性神经干细胞和脊髓源性神经干细胞的体外培养和分化的差异。方法:从人胚脑组织和脊髓组织中分离培养神经干细胞,分为EGF组、bFGF组、EGF±bFGF组,在连续传代过程中观察并比较神经干细胞体外培养特性的差异:用血清诱导神经干细胞分化,观察其分化状况的不同。结果:从人胚脑组织分离的细胞在bFGF 单独存在时无法形成神经球,在EGF或EGF±bFGF存在时形成大量具有连续增殖能力的神经球;从人胚脊髓组织分离的细胞在EGF单独存在时无法形成神经球,在bFGF单独存在时只形成少量神经球,在EGF±bFGF存在时形成大量具有连续增殖能力的神经球。同样在EGF±bFGF存在的情况下,脑源性于细胞的增殖速度较快。经血清诱导后,脑组织来源的干细胞分化为NSE阳性细胞数明显多于脊髓组织来源的干细胞,二者之间的差异具有显著性(P<0．05)。结论:脑源性和脊髓源性神经干细胞在生长和分化方面有明显差别:脑源性神经干细胞可在bFGF或EGF士bFGF存在的情况下长期传代,而脊髓源性神经干细胞只能在EGF±bFGF存在的情况下长期传代,脑源性干细胞的增殖能力明显高于脊髓源性干细胞;脑源性干细胞较脊髓源性干细胞更易分化为神经元。     

人类神经干细胞的长期培养和传代

目的 探讨人类神经干细胞的体外培养条件及其传代的方法。方法 采用机械方法从胎脑中分离神经细胞，应用N2培养基进行培养，bFGF和EGF刺激细胞扩增；传统方法和对神经球切割的方法进行传代培养；应用免疫组织化学染色对培养的细胞及其分化的细胞进行鉴定。结果 从胎脑当中成功培养出人类的神经干细胞，培养条件下呈悬浮状态生长，形成神经球，绝大多数的细胞表达波形蛋白和Musashil两种神经干细胞的标志物；这种细胞可分化为神经元和星型胶质细胞，早期的培养有少量的少突胶质细胞；在这种培养条件下，神经干细胞生长速度较慢，而采用切割神经球的方法保持了细胞间的，神经干细胞可获得较大的扩增速度。结论 在体外的培养条件下，可从胎脑组织中培养出神经干细胞，它可做为中枢神经系统疾病移植治疗的潜在细胞来源。     

成年骨髓间质干细胞体外诱导分化成神经细胞研究

目的：探索成年骨髓间质干细胞（ABMMSC）诱导分化为神经细胞（神经元和神经胶质细胞）的可行性，为ABMMSC在神经科学领域内的应用提供 参考。方法：以成年犬ABMMSC为实验对象，利用碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）、表皮生长因子（FGF）、维甲酸（RA）、脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）、胶质细胞系源性神经营养因子（GDNF）等作为增殖及分化诱导因子，采用两步法进行增殖培养，分化诱导；免疫细胞化学法进行细胞性质鉴定。结果：加入bFGF、EGF后增殖培养48h，换液、去除非粘附细胞，再增殖培养72h ,可见细胞分裂相（成纤维细胞样细胞）和簇样克隆形成（中小型细胞）。加入RA、BDNF、GDNF诱导3d，部分细胞有神经元特异性烯醇酶（NSE）、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）成分表达；第10d可见有神经元、神经胶质形态样细胞形成。经细胞成分（NSE、GFAP）鉴定证实为神经元、神经胶质细胞。结论：ABMSC在体外培养条件下，经过bFGF、EGF、RA、BDNF、GDNF等因子的“程序性”作用，可以向神经元、神经胶质前体细胞及其终末细胞方向分化。     

Radial glia produce and align the ligand fibronectin during neuronal migration in the developing chick brain

We demonstrated previously that alpha8beta1 integrin regulates the migration and survival of immature neurons during development of the chicken optic tectum; however, the potential extracellular ligand was unknown. We used immunohistochemistry to determine if several potential ligands (fibronectin, tenascin, vitronectin, and osteopontin) were expressed during neuronal migration along radial glia (RG). Fibronectin was localized in a pattern relevant to radial migration and survival of neurons; it was present before and during neuronal migration and appeared oriented along RG fibers by conventional fluorescence microscopy. Confocal microscopy confirmed that fibronectin was localized along RG cells during radial migration. It was more concentrated in some superficial laminae, which might support directional movement. Fibronectin was present after formation of definitive tectal laminae, but was diffuse and not aligned along RG, which persist. Flow cytometry analysis of dissociated optic tectum cells revealed that almost all RG were positive for fibronectin. Short-term cell culture experiments using an exocytosis inhibitor revealed that fibronectin accumulated in most RG cells. Thus, fibronectin is produced by RG and is aligned along their surfaces before and during migration. Fibronectin, therefore, is a potential ligand for general radial neuronal migration in the chick optic tectum. Its predominant source appears to be RG, in contrast with developing mammalian cortex, where fibronectin was not found in a pattern that could guide widespread radial migration and where neurons are the predominant producers of fibronectin during migration.     

菲立磁标记兔骨髓基质源神经干细胞自体移植入纹状体后的形态学观察

目的将体外标记的骨髓基质源神经干细胞经单细胞悬液微移植后观察其在兔纹状体的存活、迁移、分化和整合情况，为细胞移植治疗疾病奠定基础。方法分离兔骨髓基质细胞，利用神经干细胞培养基、白血病抑止因子和碱性成纤维母细胞生长因子进行细胞扩增并诱导成骨髓基质源神经干细胞，再经菲立磁和活细胞荧光染料PKH67标记后．采用微移植的方法，通过脑立体定位仪，用微玻璃针将干细胞分别植入兔脑纹状体内。存活1、4、8周后处死动物，组织切片，利用光镜和电镜观察标记细胞在脑内的形态学情况。结果菲立磁标记的兔骨髓基质源神经干细胞经微移植后可在兔脑内纹状体区域存活，移植的干细胞可向周围的脑实质内迁移和整合，迁移细胞沿特定的纹状体结构分布。少量菲立磁标记的干细胞可以分化成神经元。结论骨髓基质源神经干细胞移植后．可在脑实质内存活、迁移、分化和整合，这种细胞可能成为中枢神经系统自体移植的细胞来源。