碱性成纤维生长因子和表皮生长因子对脊髓神经干细胞增殖与分化的影响

目的观察碱性成纤维生长因子(bFGF)和表皮生长因子(EGF)对胚胎脊髓神经干细胞(NSC)增殖与分化的影响。方法从14 d胚胎大鼠的脊髓组织中分离培养脊髓NSC,并随机分为3组:EGF组、bFGF组和bFGF+EGF组。通过光镜观察不同时间点各组脊髓NSC克隆细胞团数量及直径大小,并采用免疫荧光染色检测各组脊髓NSC向神经元和星形胶质细胞分化的情况。结果①EGF组培养1、3、7 d后NSC克隆细胞团数量和直径均少于bFGF和bFGF+EGF组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。而bFGF+EGF组仅在培养1 d时克隆细胞团数量多于bFGF组,在培养3、7 d时差异无统计学意义。②EGF组分化细胞中神经元比例显著少于bFGF和bFGF+EGF组,星形胶质细胞数量明显大于bFGF和bFGF+EGF组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。而bFGF和bFGF+EGF组组间差异无统计学意义。结论 EGF对脊髓NSC克隆形成有一定作用,而bFGF能较好地促进克隆细胞团的形成及生长,两者联合应用在培养早期可显著促进克隆细胞团形成。EGF可诱导脊髓NSC更多分化为星形胶质细胞,而bFGF则可促进脊髓NSC向神经元分化。     

人胚脊髓神经干细胞的分离培养和鉴定

目的:探讨人胚脊髓神经干细胞的体外培养和分化的方法,观察其增殖和分化特点。方法:利用无血清培养和单细胞克隆技术从人胚脊髓组织中分离培养出神经干细胞并用血清诱导其分化,应用免疫荧光细胞化学技术对培养细胞及其分化细胞进行鉴定。结果: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和bFGF共同存在时形成大量具有连续增殖能力的神经球,表达神经干细胞的标志物Nestin,经血清诱导后分化为神经元、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞并表达特异性抗原NSE、GFAP和CNP。结论:在体外培养条件下可从人胚脊髓组织中培养出神经干细胞,它可为神经干细胞的基础研究和临床应用提供材料。     

Basic fibroblast growth factor stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in neonatal rats after ischemic brain injury

A little is known about the proliferation and fate of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) after cerebral ischemia. However, how endogenous neural stem cells are activated in the premature brain is not clear, although basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is important in neurogenesis. To investigate the effect of bFGF on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells after brain ischemia, we observed cellular changes in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of 3-day-old rats (approximately equivalent to premature infants) using immunofluorescence assays, Western blot analysis, and real-time quantitative PCR methods. The bilateral common carotid artery (BCCA) was occluded in 108 animals, then half received bFGF 10ng/g. Besides, 54 rats without ischemia as normal control. Proliferating cells were labeled by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) through intraperitoneal injection in a pulsed or a cumulative protocol. Rats were killed at 4, 7, and 14 days after ischemic injury. The number of proliferating cells in the SVZ in bFGF-treated rats was higher than that in untreated rats; bFGF also promoted neural stem cell differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative PCR assays confirmed these results. We suggest that bFGF promotes the repair of ischemia brain injury through increasing the proliferation of neural stem cells and their differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.     

Human skin-derived stem cells migrate throughout forebrain and differentiate into astrocytes after injection into adult mouse brain

Recent evidence indicates that neural stem cell properties can be found among a mammalian skin-derived multipotent population. A major barrier in the further characterization of the human skin-derived neural progenitors is the inability to isolate this population based on expression of cell surface markers. Our work has been devoted to purified human skin-derived stem cells that are capable of neural differentiation, based on the presence or absence of the AC133 cell surface marker. The enriched skin-derived AC133(+) cells express the CD34 and Thy-1 antigens. These cells cultured in a growth medium containing epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) proliferate, forming spheres, and differentiate in vitro into neurons, astrocytes, and rarely into oligodendrocytes. Single cells from sphere cultures initiated from human purified AC133(+) cells were replated as single cells and were able to generate new spheres, demonstrating the self-renewing ability of these stem cell populations. Brain engraftment of cells obtained from human purified AC133(+)-derived spheres generated different neural phenotypes: immature neurons and a most abundant population of well differentiated astrocytes. The AC133-derived astrocytes assumed perivascular locations in the frontal cortex. No donor-derived oligodendrocytes were found in the transplanted mouse brains. Several donor small, rounded cells that expressed endothelial markers were found close to the host vessel and near the subventricular zone. Thus, mammalian skin AC133-derived cells behave as a multipotent population with the capacity to differentiate into neural lineages in vitro and, prevalently, endothelium and astrocytes in vivo, demonstrating the great plasticity of these cells and suggesting potential clinical application.     

Developmental expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors in neural stem cell progeny. Modulation of neuronal and glial lineages by basic FGF treatment

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are self-renewable, multipotential cells capable of differentiating into the three major neural cell types, but the mechanisms which regulate their development are not fully understood. Both basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) promote the proliferation of NSCs. However, studies on the role of FGFs in the differentiation of EGF-expanded NSCs are still incomplete. We have studied the expression of distinct FGF receptors (FGFRs) in the progeny of EGF-expanded NSCs isolated from E15 rat striatum. In situ hybridization analysis and immunocytochemistry showed a developmentally related expression pattern and a cell lineage-specific distribution of these receptors. FGFR1 and FGFR2 were identified in many early precursors and in the oligodendrocyte lineage. The latter receptor was also present in a subpopulation of astrocytes. FGFR3 was detected in a restricted population of early precursors, in oligodendroglial progenitors, and in neurons and protoplasmic astrocytes of late-term cultures. Basic FGF treatment of the progeny of NSCs increased the proliferative rate of precursors and the number of oligodendrocytes generated, whereas the number of differentiating neurons was significantly reduced. Together these data provide evidence that FGFs modulate the development of EGF-expanded NSCs, and that this is at least partly determined by a cell lineage-specific expression of multiple FGFRs.     

Cell-type-specific expression of protein tyrosine kinase-related receptor RYK in the central nervous system of the rat

The mammalian RYK is an orphan receptor that contains a catalytically inactive tyrosine-kinase-related domain. Its Drosophila homolog, Lio/Drl, is required for axon pathfinding in developing brain. Our previous study suggested that RYK mRNA is expressed in nestin-positive progenitor cells and neurons. In the present study, immunohistochemistry has been used to further localize RYK in the central nervous system of rats to identify the lineage of the RYK-expressing cells. In the embryonic forebrain, RYK colocalized with nestin in the ventricular zone and with MAP2 in the cortical plate, suggesting that RYK is expressed in neural progenitor cells and neurons. Localization of RYK in embryonic spinal cord also suggested its expression in both cell types. In primary cultures of rat cerebrum, RYK expression was observed in all neurons, as well as in a significant population of oligodendrocytes, O-2A progenitor cells, and type-2 astrocytes. However, no RYK expression was detected in type-1 astrocytes or microglia. Multipotent neural stem cell line MNS-70 was also analyzed for expression of RYK, and most of the cells were positive for both RYK and nestin in the undifferentiated stage. In the differentiated stage, expression of RYK was detected in the neurons, but not in type-1 astrocytes. In conclusion, RYK is expressed in nestin-positive progenitor cells and neurons, and in a certain population of oligodendrocytes, O-2A progenitor cells, and type-2 astrocytes in developing CNS. These findings show that expression of RYK in rat CNS is tightly regulated in a cell-type-specific manner.     

Establishment and properties of a growth factor-dependent, perpetual neural stem cell line from the human CNS

The ready availability of unlimited quantities of neural stem cells derived from the human brain holds great interest for basic and applied neuroscience, including therapeutic cell replacement and gene transfer following transplantation. We report here the combination of epigenetic and genetic procedures for perpetuating human neural stem cell lines. Thus we tested various culture conditions and genes for those that optimally allow for the continuous, rapid expansion and passaging of human neural stem cells. Among them, v-myc (the p110 gag-myc fusion protein derived from the avian retroviral genome) seems to be the most effective gene; we have also identified a strict requirement for the presence of mitogens (FGF-2 and EGF) in the growth medium, in effect constituting a conditional perpetuality or immortalization. A monoclonal, nestin-positive, human neural stem cell line (HNSC.100) perpetuated in this way divides every 40 h and stops dividing upon mitogen removal, undergoing spontaneous morphological differentiation and upregulating markers of the three fundamental lineages in the CNS (neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes). HNSC.100 cells therefore retain basic features of epigenetically expanded human neural stem cells. Clonal analysis confirmed the stability, multipotency, and self-renewability of the cell line. Finally, HNSC.100 can be transfected and transduced using a variety of procedures and genes encoding proteins for marking purposes and of therapeutic interest (e.g., human tyrosine hydroxylase I).     

Developmental expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors in neural stem cell progeny. Modulation of neuronal and glial lineages by basic FGF treatment

Abstract

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are self-renewable, multipotential cells capable of differentiating into the three major neural cell types, but the mechanisms which regulate their development are not fully understood. Both basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) promote the proliferation of NSCs. However, studies on the role of FGFs in the differentiation of EGF-expanded NSCs are still incomplete. We have studied the expression of distinct FGF receptors (FGFRs) in the progeny of EGFexpanded NSCs isolated from E15 rat striatum. In situ hybridization analysis and immunocytochemistry showed a developmentally related expression pattern and a cell lineage-specific distribution of these receptors. FGFR1 and FGFR2 were identified in many early precursors and in the oligodendrocyte lineage. The latter receptor was also present in a subpopulation of astrocytes. FGFR3 was detected in a restricted population of early precursors, in oligodendroglial progenitors, and in neurons and protoplasmic astrocytes of late-term cultures. Basic FGF treatment of the progeny of NSCs increased the proliferative rate of precursors and the number of oligodendrocytes generated, whereas the number of differentiating neurons was significantly reduced. Together these data provide evidence that FGFs modulate the development of EGF-expanded NSCs, and that this is at least partly determined by a cell lineage-specific expression of multiple FGFRs. [Neurol Res 2001; 23: 612-621]     

胚胎大鼠嗅神经干细胞的培养及分化特性

目的建立胚胎大鼠嗅神经干细胞(NSCs)体外培养方法,研究其增殖和分化特性.方法采用添加丝裂原的无血清培养基分离、培养胚胎14 d(E14)大鼠嗅球NSCs,应用免疫细胞化学方法鉴定培养的NSCs及自然分化为特异性神经细胞的类型,测定NSCs的生长曲线.结果从E14大鼠嗅球分离、培养出表达nestin,并能分化为神经元、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞的NSCs.嗅NSCs的增殖依赖表皮生长因子(EGF)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF),其中EGF的促分裂增殖作用明显优于bFGF.结论从E14大鼠嗅球培养出具有自我增殖和多向分化潜能的NSCs.     

Direct cell-cell interactions control apoptosis and oligodendrocyte marker expression of neuroepithelial cells

During brain development, the neuroepithelium generates neurons and glial cells. Proliferation and differentiation of neuroepithelial cells are controlled by a complex combination of secreted factors and more intrinsic or local mechanisms, such as lateral inhibition and asymmetric division. To obtain further insights into the signals governing neuroepithelial cell fate, we used the immortomouse to derive conditionally immortalised cell lines from mouse E10 neuroepithelium. We isolated a nestin-positive basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-responsive cell line (SVE10-23) which mostly differentiate into astrocytes when cocultured with primary cortical cells. We found that, by simply lowering the cell density, SVE10-23 cells embarked on oligodendrocytic differentiation as indicated by the strong expression of galactocerebroside C and 2'3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase. Apoptosis accompanied the differentiation, and all cells died within 1 week. We present here evidence that direct interactions between cells are the main mechanism regulating this oligodendrocytic differentiation. We demonstrate that SVE10-23 cells contact or proximity inhibit their differentiation, prevent apoptosis, and promote their proliferation. Similarly, others nestin-positive precursor cell lines and nonimmortalised bFGF-grown E10 cells were found to spontaneously differentiate at low density, thus generalising the idea that neural precursor fate is regulated by direct cell-cell interactions. The SVE10-23 cell line provides a valuable tool with which to study further the molecular components implicated in this mode of regulation.     

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。     

In vitro expansion of a multipotent population of human neural progenitor cells.

The isolation and expansion of human neural progenitor cells have important potential clinical applications, because these cells may be used as graft material in cell therapies to regenerate tissue and/or function in patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This paper describes a continuously dividing multipotent population of progenitor cells in the human embryonic forebrain that can be propagated in vitro. These cells can be maintained and expanded using a serum-free defined medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Using these three factors, the cell cultures expand and remain multipotent for at least 1 year in vitro. This period of expansion results in a 10(7)-fold increase of this heterogeneous population of cells. Upon differentiation, they form neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, the three main phenotypes in the CNS. Moreover, GABA-immunoreactive and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons can be identified. These results demonstrate the feasibility of long-term in vitro expansion of human neural progenitor cells. The advantages of such a population of neural precursors for allogeneic transplantation include the ability to provide an expandable, well-characterized, defined cell source which can form specific neuronal or glial subtypes.     

人胚神经干细胞的体外培养及鉴定

目的 探讨人胚神经干细胞的体外培养和诱导分化的条件。方法 从药物流产的12周到16周的人胚胎海马组织中分离神经干细胞，在EGF、bFGF和LIF联合作用下使其稳定增殖，并用10％的胎牛血清诱导其贴壁分化，应用免疫荧光染色方法行Nestin、NSE、MAP-2、GFAP和GalC免疫荧光染色，对神经干细胞及其分化的细胞进行鉴定。结果 体外培养的神经干细胞增殖成神经干细胞球并传代，鉴定为Nestin染色阳性细胞，并可诱导分化为神经细胞、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞。结论 利用无血清培养技术和特定生长因子，可培养出在体外稳定增殖并有多向分化潜能的人胚神经干细胞。     

Quiescent neural cells regain multipotent stem cell characteristics influenced by adult neural stem cells in co-culture

The source of cells participating in central nervous system (CNS) tissue repair and regeneration is poorly defined. One possible source is quiescent neural cells that can persist in CNS in the form of dormant progenitors or highly specialized cell types. Under appropriate conditions, these quiescent cells may be capable of re-entering the mitotic cell cycle and contributing to the stem cell pool. The aim of this study was to determine whether in vitro differentiated neural stem cells (NSC) can regain their multipotent-like stem cell characteristics in co-culture with NSC. To this end, we induced neural differentiation by plating NSC, derived from the periventricular subependymal zone (SEZ) of ROSA26 transgenic mice in Neurobasal A/B27 medium in the absence of bFGF. Under these conditions, NSC differentiated into neurons, glia, and oligodendrocytes. While the level of Nestin expression was downregulated, persistence of dormant progenitors could not be ruled out. However, further addition of bFGF or bFGF/EGF with conditioned medium derived from adult NSC did not induce any noticeable cell proliferation. In another experiment, differentiated neural cells were cultured with adult NSC, isolated from the hippocampus of Balb/c mice, in the presence bFGF. This resulted in proliferating colonies of ROSA26 derived cells that mimicked NSC in their morphology, growth kinetics, and expressed NSC marker proteins. The average nuclear area and DAPI fluorescence intensity of these cells were similar to that of NSC grown alone. We conclude that reactivation of quiescent neural cells can be initiated by NSC-associated short-range cues but not by cell fusion.     

Developmental changes in progenitor cell responsiveness to cytokines.

Multipotent progenitor cells have been identified within periventricular generative zones of the developing and adult brain. To determine whether the environmental responsiveness of these cells changes during development, progenitor cells were cultured from embryonic, postnatal, and adult rat brain in the presence of either basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF). Embryonic cells cultured as intact progenitor neurospheres proliferated more robustly in response to bFGF than to EGF, whereas proliferation of postnatal and adult progenitor cells was enhanced more by EGF than bFGF. Progenitor cells generated in the presence of either bFGF or EGF had the capacity to generate neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes at all developmental stages. Most embryonic and neonatal bFGF-generated cells differentiated predominantly into neurons, whereas late stage embryonic and neonatal EGF-generated progenitors largely remained in an undifferentiated state. However, later postnatal and adult progenitor species, irrespective of whether they were generated in the presence of bFGF or EGF, gave rise preferentially to astrocytes. Treatment with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)2 or BMP7 enhanced astroglial differentiation and suppressed oligodendroglial differentiation of both EGF- and bFGF-generated progenitor species, suggesting that the effects of the BMPs are not dependent on EGF receptor activation. Thus, while central nervous system (CNS) progenitor cells retain multipotent capacity and responsiveness to the BMPs throughout development, they exhibit significant changes in other cellular response properties, perhaps reflecting differences in the requirements for specific generative versus regenerative events.     

成鼠骨髓基质细胞分化为神经元的体外研究

目的 :通过一定的培养条件 ,使骨髓基质细胞 (BMSC)分化为神经元和胶质细胞。方法 :以含有 EGF、b FGF的培养液培养 BMSC,经传代、换液去除杂质细胞 ,撤掉 EGF、 b FGF并加胶质细胞条件培养液及 BDNF,待细胞分化后进行形态学观察及 NSE、 GFAP染色。结果 :撤掉 EGF、 b FGF并加 BDNF,胶质细胞条件培养液后 2天可见分化细胞 ,NSE阳性细胞占细胞总数的 38.47± 3.2 7% ,GFAP阳性细胞占细胞总数的 5 0 .73± 3.2 6 % ,GFAP阳性细胞占细胞总数的 5 0 .73± 4.6 5 %。结论 :本实验通过 EGF、 b FGF及适宜的培养液成功对骨髓基质细胞进行定向 ,使其转化为神经干细胞并最终诱导其分化为神经元和胶质细胞     

多细胞因子诱导成年鼠骨髓基质细胞向神经细胞分化的实验研究

目的观察大鼠骨髓基质细胞(rBMSCs)的生长特点及诱导条件下分化成神经细胞的能力,并对其机制进行初步探讨。方法以密度梯度离心分离骨髓基质细胞,在神经干细胞培养液中培养,采用四唑盐(MTT)法观察在培养液中添加碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)、表皮生长因子(EGF)对BMSCs增殖的影响;观察添加脑源性神经生长因子(BDNF)、神经生长因子(NGF)和维甲酸(RA)对rBMSCs的诱导分化情况;采用免疫组织化学法(ABC)检测诱导后的细胞表达神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、神经元核蛋白(NeuN)和胶质原性纤维酸性蛋白抗体(GFAP)等特异性标志物的情况;以流式细胞分选确定神经元的比例。结果bFGF和EGF能在体外促进rBMSCs增殖,BDNF、NGF和RA能诱导rBMSCs来源的神经干细胞(NSCs)表达NSE、GFAP等特异性标志物。结论EGF、bFGF、BDNF、NGF、RA及适宜的培养液可使rBMSCs定向转化为NSCs,获得足够的目的细胞,进而分化为神经元样和神经胶质样细胞。     

In Vitro Expansion of a Multipotent Population of Human Neural Progenitor Cells

The isolation and expansion of human neural progenitor cells have important potential clinical applications, because these cells may be used as graft material in cell therapies to regenerate tissue and/or function in patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This paper describes a continuously dividing multipotent population of progenitor cells in the human embryonic forebrain that can be propagated in vitro. These cells can be maintained and expanded using a serum-free defined medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Using these three factors, the cell cultures expand and remain multipotent for at least 1 year in vitro. This period of expansion results in a 10⁷-fold increase of this heterogeneous population of cells. Upon differentiation, they form neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, the three main phenotypes in the CNS. Moreover, GABA-immunoreactive and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons can be identified. These results demonstrate the feasibility of long-term in vitro expansion of human neural progenitor cells. The advantages of such a population of neural precursors for allogeneic transplantation include the ability to provide an expandable, well-characterized, defined cell source which can form specific neuronal or glial subtypes.     

The human NTERA2 neural cell line generates neurons on growth under neural stem cell conditions and exhibits characteristics of radial glial cells

NTERA2 cells are a human neural cell line generating neurons after exposure to retinoic acid and, as such, are widely used as a model of neurogenesis. We report that these cells form spheres when grown in serum-free medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). These spheres were found to express markers of radial glial cells such as, Pax6, glutamate transporter (GLAST), tenascin C, brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP), and the 3CB2 antigen. On plating on an adhesive substrate, NTERA2 spheres generate a large percentage of immature neurons (30-50%) together with a minority of cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage. Thus NTERA2 cells share properties with neural stem cells. However, at variance with the latter, we found that they produce their own bFGF implicated in an autocrine or paracrine proliferative loop and that they do not generate astrocytes after differentiation. These results provide an interesting model to study radial glial cells and their role in human neurogenesis.     

Neural stem cells: isolation and differentiation into cholinergic neurons

This investigation aimed to isolate neural stem cells from neonatal hippocampus and induce them to differentiate into cholinergic neurons. The isolated neural stem cells were incubated in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium/F12 medium added with 20 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor and B27. The cell line isolated from the hippocampal formation of neonatal rats expressed nestin and had the potency to form clones and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Embryonic chick skeletal muscle extract was used to induce the differentiation of the neural stem cells into cholinergic neurons. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the choline acetyltransferase antigen of cholinergic neurons for confirmation. The results showed that embryonic chick skeletal muscle extract could induce isolated neural stem cell to differentiate into a significantly larger number of cholinergic neurons than controls.