海马神经干细胞不同传代方法的比较

背景：体外培养神经干细胞,在悬浮培养时由于自身增殖特性会形成球,传代时将会面临如何将细胞球分离成单细胞的问题。 目的：寻求理想的大鼠海马神经干细胞传代方法,以获得大量可增生的神经干细胞以供研究。 方法：分离新生1 d SD大鼠海马神经干细胞,原代培养至五六天时,分别用机械吹打法、胰蛋白酶、TrypLE和Accutase消化法分离神经干细胞球。之后每7 d传代1次,连续传代3次。分别于每次传代后第1天和传代后第4天计数活细胞比例和细胞球数目,实验重复3次。 结果与结论：神经干细胞球经3种酶消化后获得的均是单细胞;经机械吹打后既有单个细胞,也有小细胞球分布于培养液中。在酶消化法中,Accutase消化法传代后神经干细胞的活细胞比例明显高于胰蛋白酶消化(P < 0.01)和TrypLE消化法   (P < 0.05)。同时,Accutase消化法传代后新形成的细胞球数目也较其余各组多(P < 0.01)。提示在实验条件下,Accutase消化法能够较好地将神经干细胞球分离成存活率较高、能快速形成新的克隆球的单个细胞,是较为理想的神经干细胞分离传代方法。     

Don't look: growing clonal versus nonclonal neural stem cell colonies

Recent reports have challenged the clonality of the neurosphere assay in assessing neural stem cell (NSC) numbers quantitatively. We tested the clonality of the neurosphere assay by culturing mixtures of differently labeled neural cells, watching single neural cells proliferate using video microscopy, and encapsulating single NSCs and their progeny. The neurosphere assay gave rise to clonal colonies when using primary cells plated at 10 cells/microl or less; however, when using passaged NSCs, the spheres were clonal only if plated at 1 cell/microl. Most important, moving the plates during the growth phase (to look at cultures microscopically) greatly increased the incidence of nonclonal colonies. To ensure clonal sphere formation and investigate nonautonomous effects on clonal sphere formation frequencies, single NSCs were encapsulated in agarose and proliferated as clonal free-floating spheres. We demonstrate that clonal neurospheres can be grown by avoiding movement-induced aggregation, by single-cell tracking, and by encapsulation of single cells. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.     

Transplantation of neural stem cells: cellular & gene therapy for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

We have tracked the response of host and transplanted neural progenitors or stem cells to hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury, and explored the therapeutic potential of neural stem cells (NSCs) injected into mice brains subjected to focal HI injury. Such cells may integrace appropriately into the degenerating central nervous system (CNS), and showed robust engraftment and foreign gene expression within the region of HI inury. They appeared to have migrated preferentially to the site of ischemia, experienced limited proliferation, and differentiated into neural cells lost to injury, trying to repopulate the damaged brain area. The transplantation of exogenous NSCs may, in fact, augment a natural self-repair process in which the damaged CNS "attempts" to mobilize its own pool of stem cells. Providing additional NSCs and trophic factors may optimize this response. Therefore, NSCs may provide a novel approach to reconstituting brains damaged by HI brain injury. Preliminary data in animal models of stroke lends support to these hypotheses.     

神经干细胞球生长动力学模型

神经干细胞的体外大规模培养对于细胞移植治疗中枢神经系统受损及各种神经退行性疾病有重大意义。体外呈球状生长的神经干细胞球在长大到一定尺寸之后，有可能在其内部由于养分缺乏而形成坏死细胞，这对于干细胞的有效扩增是极为不利的。因此，模拟神经球的动态生长过程并分析出现坏死细胞的临界神经球尺度对于神经干细胞的大规模扩增有重要意义。本研究采用元胞自动机技术建立了模拟神经球生长的动态模型，并结合神经球内养分的扩散传递模型，求解神经干细胞球内出现坏死细胞的临界神经球尺寸以及坏死细胞的扩大规律。计算结果表明，坏死细胞的出现与体外培养条件有一定关系；坏死细胞的出现主要取决于神经球的尺寸，其外部再好的培养条件也不可能抑制坏死的出现。此外，计算结果还表明，神经球内由于氧缺乏而形成的坏死细胞的出现要早于由于葡萄糖缺乏时的情况，并且坏死细胞一旦出现，其增长速度就非常快，有可能很快使整个神经球成为坏死细胞球。本研究所建立的CA模型及神经球内的传质模型可以很好的模拟神经球的生长过程。     

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 stimulates attachment of neurospheres and astrogenesis of neural stem cells in neurospheres via phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-mediated upregulation of N-cadherin

The neurosphere culture system is useful for expanding neural stem cells (NSCs) without affecting self-renewal potential and multipotency. However, the extrinsic signals that affect the formation or dissociation of neurospheres are poorly understood. Here, we found that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) induced the attachment of neurospheres, astrocytic differentiation, and migration of neurosphere NSCs. These outcomes were accompanied by Akt activation and upregulation of the adhesion molecule, N-cadherin. A phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3 kinase) inhibitor (LY294002) blocked attachment of neurosphere, astrocytic differentiation, migration, and N-cadherin upregulation of neurosphre NSCs. The PI3 kinase-Akt pathway appeared to selectively mediate the effects of BMP4, as neurosphere attachment was unaffected by MEK inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126). Importantly, a neutralizing N-cadherin antibody inhibited BMP4-induced neurosphere attachment, astrocytic differentiation, and migration of neurosphere NSCs. Together, these findings show that BMP4-induced attachment of neurospheres is related to the astrocytic differentiation of these cells and that these effects are attributable, at least in part, to PI3 kinase-Akt pathway-dependent induction of N-cadherin.     

Derivation of neural stem cells from mesenchymal stemcells: evidence for a bipotential stem cell population

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has been proposed as a future therapy for neurodegenerative disorders. However, NSC transplantation will be hampered by the limited number of brain donors and the toxicity of immunosuppressive regimens that might be needed with allogeneic transplantation. These limitations may be avoided if NSCs can be generated from clinically accessible sources, such as bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood samples, that are suitable for autologous transplantation. We report here that NSCs can be generated from human BM-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). When cultured in NSC culture conditions, 8% of MSCs were able to generate neurospheres. These MSC-derived neurospheres expressed characteristic NSC antigens, such as nestin and musashi-1, and were capable of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, when these MSC-derived neurospheres were cocultured with primary astrocytes, they differentiate into neurons that possess both dendritic and axonal processes, form synapses, and are able to fire tetrodotoxin-sensitive action potentials. When these MSC-derived NSCs were switched back to MSC culture conditions, a small fraction of NSCs (averaging 4-5%) adhered to the culture flasks, proliferated, and displayed the morphology of MSCs. Those adherent cells expressed the characteristic MSC antigens and regained the ability to differentiate into multiple mesodermal lineages. Data presented in this study suggest that MSCs contain a small fraction (averaging 4-5%) of a bipotential stem cell population that is able to generate either MSCs or NSCs depending on the culture conditions.     

Comparative analysis of the frequency and distribution of stem and progenitor cells in the adult mouse brain

The neurosphere assay can detect and expand neural stem cells (NSCs) and progenitor cells, but it cannot discriminate between these two populations. Given two assays have purported to overcome this shortfall, we performed a comparative analysis of the distribution and frequency of NSCs and progenitor cells detected in 400 mum coronal segments along the ventricular neuraxis of the adult mouse brain using the neurosphere assay, the neural colony forming cell assay (N-CFCA), and label-retaining cell (LRC) approach. We observed a large variation in the number of progenitor/stem cells detected in serial sections along the neuraxis, with the number of neurosphere-forming cells detected in individual 400 mum sections varying from a minimum of eight to a maximum of 891 depending upon the rostral-caudal coordinate assayed. Moreover, the greatest variability occurred in the rostral portion of the lateral ventricles, thereby explaining the large variation in neurosphere frequency previously reported. Whereas the overall number of neurospheres (3730 +/- 276) or colonies (4275 +/- 124) we detected along the neuraxis did not differ significantly, LRC numbers were significantly reduced (1186 +/- 188, 7 month chase) in comparison to both total colonies and neurospheres. Moreover, approximately two orders of magnitude fewer NSC-derived colonies (50 +/- 10) were detected using the N-CFCA as compared to LRCs. Given only 5% of the LRCs are cycling (BrdU+/Ki-67+) or competent to divide (BrdU+/Mcm-2+), and proliferate upon transfer to culture, it is unclear whether this technique selectively detects endogenous NSCs. Overall, caution should be taken with the interpretation and employment of all these techniques.     

In vitro-derived "neural stem cells" function as neural progenitors without the capacity for self-renewal

Hematopoietic stem cells have been defined by their ability to self-renew and successfully reconstitute hematopoiesis throughout the life of a transplant recipient. Neural stem cells (NSCs) are believed to exist in the regenerating regions of the brain in adult mice: the subependymal zone (SEZ) of the lateral ventricles (LVs) and the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Cells from the SEZ can be cultured to generate neurospheres or multipotent astrocytic stem cells (MASCs), both of which demonstrate the stem cell qualities of multipotency and self-renewal in vitro. Whether neurospheres and MASCs possess the true stem cell quality of functional self-renewal in vivo is unknown. The definitive tests for this unique capability are long-term engraftment and serial transplantation. Both neurospheres and MASCs transplanted into the LVs of C57BL/6 mice resulted in short-term engraftment into the recipient brain, with donor-derived migratory neuroblasts visible in the rostral migratory stream and olfactory bulb after transplantation. To test in vivo expansion/self-renewal of the transplanted cells, we attempted to reisolate donor-derived neurospheres and MASCs. Even when rigorous drug selection was used to select for rare events, no donor-derived neurospheres or MASCs could be reisolated. Furthermore, donor-derived migratory neuroblasts were not observed in the rostral migratory stream (RMS) for more than 1 month after transplantation, indicating a transient rather than long-term engraftment. Therefore, in vitro-derived neurospheres and MASCs do not function as NSCs with long-term, self-renewal capabilities in vivo but instead represent short-term neural progenitor cells as defined by an in vivo functional assay.     

Enhancing the reliability and throughput of neurosphere culture on hydrogel microwell arrays

The neurosphere assay is the standard retrospective assay to test the self-renewal capability and multipotency of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. However, it has recently become clear that not all neurospheres are derived from a NSC and that on conventional cell culture substrates, neurosphere motility may cause frequent neurosphere "merging" [Nat Methods 2006;3:801-806; Stem Cells 2007;25:871-874]. Combining biomimetic hydrogel matrix technology with microengineering, we developed a microwell array platform on which NSC fate and neurosphere formation can be unequivocally attributed to a single founding cell. Using time-lapse microscopy and retrospective immunostaining, the fate of several hundred single NSCs was quantified. Compared with conventional neurosphere culture methods on plastic dishes, we detected a more than 100% increase in single NSC viability on soft hydrogels. Effective confinement of single proliferating cells to microwells led to neurosphere formation of vastly different sizes, a high percentage of which showed stem cell phenotypes after one week in culture. The reliability and increased throughput of this platform should help to better elucidate the function of sphere-forming stem/progenitor cells independent of their proliferation dynamics. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.     

Enumeration of neural stem and progenitor cells in the neural colony-forming cell assay

Advancement in our understanding of the biology of adult stem cells and their therapeutic potential relies heavily on meaningful functional assays that can identify and measure stem cell activity in vivo and in vitro. In the mammalian nervous system, neural stem cells (NSCs) are often studied using a culture system referred to as the neurosphere assay. We previously challenged a central tenet of this assay, that all neurospheres are derived from a NSC, and provided evidence that it overestimates NSC frequency, rendering it inappropriate for quantitation of NSC frequency in relation to NSC regulation. Here we report the development and validation of the neural colony-forming cell assay (NCFCA), which discriminates stem from progenitor cells on the basis of their proliferative potential. We anticipate that the NCFCA will provide additional clarity in discerning the regulation of NSCs, thereby facilitating further advances in the promising application of NSCs for therapeutic use.     

Neural stem cells directly differentiated from partially reprogrammed fibroblasts rapidly acquire gliogenic competency

Neural stem cells (NSCs) were directly induced from mouse fibroblasts using four reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc) without the clonal isolation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These NSCs gave rise to both neurons and glial cells even at early passages, while early NSCs derived from clonal embryonic stem cells (ESCs)/iPSCs differentiated mainly into neurons. Epidermal growth factor-dependent neurosphere cultivation efficiently propagated these gliogenic NSCs and eliminated residual pluripotent cells that could form teratomas in vivo. We concluded that these directly induced NSCs were derived from partially reprogrammed cells, because dissociated ESCs/iPSCs did not form neurospheres in this culture condition. These NSCs differentiated into both neurons and glial cells in vivo after being transplanted intracranially into mouse striatum. NSCs could also be directly induced from adult human fibroblasts. The direct differentiation of partially reprogrammed cells may be useful for rapidly preparing NSCs with a strongly reduced propensity for tumorigenesis.     

神经干细胞移植联合氨基甲酰促红细胞生成素对脑瘫大鼠的作用及机制

目的研究神经干细胞（NSCs）移植联合氨基甲酰促红细胞生成素（CEPO）对新生脑瘫大鼠脑损伤的保护作用。方法从孕14～16天大鼠获得神经干细胞,经过培养并传代后备用。利用7日龄wistar大鼠制作脑瘫模型,给予CEPO腹腔注射和神经干细胞移植,对神经干细胞移植后的分化、凋亡情况,免疫分子在移植前后的改变,大鼠神经系统功能检测等各项指标进行评估,并与单-神经干细胞移植、CEPO腹腔注射效果进行比较。结果缺氧缺血脑损伤后,IFN-γ和IL-1β的浓度显著提高（P〈0．05）,MHC的含量增加,大鼠学习能力下降（P〈0．05）。联合应用CEPO和神经干细胞移植可使移植细胞存活率提高并向神经元分化,降低血中IFN-γ和IL-1β水平,调节MHC抗原的表达,进而明显改善大鼠的神经运动功能。结论应用CEPO可促进移植细胞存活,调节免疫分子的分泌,改善细胞存活的环境,对移植细胞具有明显的保护作用。     

Multipotent stem cells from adult olfactory mucosa.

Multipotent stem cells are thought to be responsible for the generation of new neurons in the adult brain. Neurogenesis also occurs in an accessible part of the nervous system, the olfactory mucosa. We show here that cells from human olfactory mucosa generate neurospheres that are multipotent in vitro and when transplanted into the chicken embryo. Cloned neurosphere cells show this multipotency. Multipotency was evident without prior culture in vitro: cells dissociated from adult rat olfactory mucosa generate leukocytes when transplanted into bone marrow-irradiated hosts, and cells dissociated from adult mouse olfactory epithelium generated numerous cell types when transplanted into the chicken embryo. It is unlikely that these results can be attributed to hematopoietic precursor contamination or cell fusion. These results demonstrate the existence of a multipotent stem-like cell in the olfactory mucosa useful for autologous transplantation therapies and for cellular studies of disease.     

Design of culture substrates for large-scale expansion of neural stem cells

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have been frequently used to investigate in vitro the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of the central nervous system (CNS). In addition, NSCs are regarded as one of the potential sources for the cell replacement therapy of CNS disorders. Most of these studies have utilized NSCs prepared by neurosphere culture. However, this method normally yields a heterogeneous population containing differentiated neural cells as well as NSCs. In addition, the rate of cell expansion is not high enough for obtaining a large quantity of NSCs in a short period. Here we report the design of culture substrates that allow highly selective and rapid expansion of NSCs. We synthesize epidermal growth factor fused with a hexahistidine sequence (EGF-His) and a polystyrene-binding peptide (EGF-PSt), and these engineered growth factors were surface-anchored to a nickel-chelated glass plate and a polystyrene dish, respectively. The EGF-His-chelated glass substrate was further used to assemble a culture module. Neurosphere-forming cells prepared from the fetal rat striatum were used to examine the selective expansion of NSCs using the EGF-His-chelated module and the EGF-PSt-bound polystyrene dish. Our results show that the culture module enables to selectively expand NSCs in a closed system more efficiently than the standard neurosphere culture. The EGF-PSt-bound polystyrene dish also permits efficient expansion of NSCs, providing a straightforward means to acquire a large quantity of pure NSCs in standard laboratories.     

Time of transplantation and cell preparation determine neural stem cell survival in a mouse model of Huntington’s disease

Cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, using multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs), require above all, a good survival of the graft. In this study, we unilaterally injected quinolinic acid (QA) into the striatum of adult mice and transplanted syngeneic NSCs of enhanced green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice into the lesioned striatum. The injection of QA leads to an excitotoxic lesion with selective cell death of the medium sized spiny neurons, the same cells that are affected in Huntington’s disease. In order to investigate the best timing of transplantation for the survival of donor cells, we transplanted the stem cells at 2, 7 and 14 days after injury. In addition, the influence of graft preparation prior to transplantation, i.e., intact neurospheres versus dissociated cell suspension on graft survival was investigated. By far the best survival was found with the combination of early transplantation (i.e., 2 days after QA-lesion) with the use of neurospheres instead of dissociated cell suspension. This might be due to the different states of host’s astrocytic and microglia activation which we found to be moderate at 2, but pronounced at 7 and 14 days after QA-lesion. We also investigated brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-expression in the striatum after QA-lesion and found no significant change in BDNF protein-level. We conclude that already the method of graft preparation of NSCs for transplantation, as well as the timing of the transplantation procedure strongly affects the survival of the donor cells when grafted into the QA-lesioned striatum of adult mice.     

Grafted neural stem cells migrate to substantia nigra and improve behavior in Parkinsonian rats

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we investigated the effect of transplanted NSCs in a PD animal model. NSCs isolated from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of E14 rats were cultured in vitro to produce neurospheres, which were subsequently infected with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV₂) expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The PD animal model was established by unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) of Sprague–Dawley rats. Once the model was established, EGFP-expressing NSCs were transplanted into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) or striatum of PD rats. We found that NSCs transplanted into either site significantly reduced apomorphine-induced circling behavior of PD rats. Pathological analysis revealed that the EGFP-expressing NSCs could be detected at both injection sites at 1, 2 and 4 months after transplantation. SNc transplanted cells dispersed within the SNc with a significant portion differentiated into tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons. Whereas cells transplanted into the striatum migrated ventrally and posteriorly towards the SNc. These results suggest that the 6-OHDA damaged brain area attracts grafted NSCs, which migrated from the striatum and survived for a long time in SNc, resulting in behavioral improvement of PD rats.     

中脑神经干细胞和骨髓基质干细胞对帕金森大鼠行为学及脑组织形态学的影响

背景：研究发现神经干细胞或者骨髓基质干细胞可脑内移植治疗中枢神经系统疾病,但是两种干细胞移植治疗效果的比较相对较少。目的：观察比较中脑神经干细胞和骨髓基质干细胞对帕金森大鼠行为学及脑组织形态学的影响。方法：58只SD大鼠构建帕金森病模型,随机分为3组,分别为骨髓基质干细胞组(20只)、中脑神经干细胞组(20只)、生理盐水组(18只)。造模成功后3周,选取右侧纹状体 2 个坐标点注入骨髓基质干细胞悬液、中脑神经干细胞悬液、生理盐水5 μL。移植后5个月腹腔注射阿朴吗啡观察大鼠的行为学变化,取纹状体脑组织制备石蜡切片进行免疫组化荧光染色。结果与结论：治疗后第5个月骨髓基质干细胞组和中脑神经干细胞组大鼠旋转次数较治疗前显著下降(P < 0.05),且明显低于生理盐水组(P < 0.05),骨髓基质干细胞组和神经干细胞组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。移植后第1周,骨髓基质干细胞组纹状体内有BrdU与Nestin双重染色细胞;移植后第1个月,脑纹状体内出现BrdU/GFAP双重染色细胞和BrdU/NSE双重染色细胞;纹状体内存在TH阳性细胞,但未出现明显BrdU/TH双重染色细胞;移植1个月之后,BrdU与Nestin双重染色细胞数量逐渐减少,最终基本消失,但仍然存在一定的数量的BrdU/GFAP、BrdU/NSE双重染色细胞,BrdU/GFAP阳性细胞数量相对较多。同一时间点,中脑神经干细胞组也存在类似情况,但生理盐水组未发现双标细胞。结果表明,中脑神经干细胞和骨髓基质干细胞移植均可改善帕金森大鼠的行为学,且可分化为神经元、星形胶质细胞、多巴胺能神经元。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

Long-term fate of neural precursor cells following transplantation into developing and adult CNS

Successful strategies for transplantation of neural precursor cells for replacement of lost or dysfunctional CNS cells require long-term survival of grafted cells and integration with the host system, potentially for the life of the recipient. It is also important to demonstrate that transplants do not result in adverse outcomes. Few studies have examined the long-term properties of transplanted neural precursor cells in the CNS, particularly in non-neurogenic regions of the adult. The aim of the present study was to extensively characterize the fate of defined populations of neural precursor cells following transplantation into the developing and adult CNS (brain and spinal cord) for up to 15 months, including integration of graft-derived neurons with the host. Specifically, we employed neuronal-restricted precursors and glial-restricted precursors, which represent neural precursor cells with lineage restrictions for neuronal and glial fate, respectively. Transplanted cells were prepared from embryonic day-13.5 fetal spinal cord of transgenic donor rats that express the marker gene human placental alkaline phosphatase to achieve stable and reliable graft tracking. We found that in both developing and adult CNS grafted cells showed long-term survival, morphological maturation, extensive distribution and differentiation into all mature CNS cell types (neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). Graft-derived neurons also formed synapses, as identified by electron microscopy, suggesting that transplanted neural precursor cells integrated with adult CNS. Furthermore, grafts did not result in any apparent deleterious outcomes. We did not detect tumor formation, cells did not localize to unwanted locations and no pronounced immune response was present at the graft sites. The long-term stability of neuronal-restricted precursors and glial-restricted precursors and the lack of adverse effects suggest that transplantation of lineage-restricted neural precursor cells can serve as an effective and safe replacement therapy for CNS injury and degeneration.     

Long-term fate of neural precursor cells following transplantation into developing and adult CNS

Successful strategies for transplantation of neural precursor cells for replacement of lost or dysfunctional CNS cells require long-term survival of grafted cells and integration with the host system, potentially for the life of the recipient. It is also important to demonstrate that transplants do not result in adverse outcomes. Few studies have examined the long-term properties of transplanted neural precursor cells in the CNS, particularly in non-neurogenic regions of the adult. The aim of the present study was to extensively characterize the fate of defined populations of neural precursor cells following transplantation into the developing and adult CNS (brain and spinal cord) for up to 15 months, including integration of graft-derived neurons with the host. Specifically, we employed neuronal-restricted precursors and glial-restricted precursors, which represent neural precursor cells with lineage restrictions for neuronal and glial fate, respectively. Transplanted cells were prepared from embryonic day-13.5 fetal spinal cord of transgenic donor rats that express the marker gene human placental alkaline phosphatase to achieve stable and reliable graft tracking. We found that in both developing and adult CNS grafted cells showed long-term survival, morphological maturation, extensive distribution and differentiation into all mature CNS cell types (neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). Graft-derived neurons also formed synapses, as identified by electron microscopy, suggesting that transplanted neural precursor cells integrated with adult CNS. Furthermore, grafts did not result in any apparent deleterious outcomes. We did not detect tumor formation, cells did not localize to unwanted locations and no pronounced immune response was present at the graft sites. The long-term stability of neuronal-restricted precursors and glial-restricted precursors and the lack of adverse effects suggest that transplantation of lineage-restricted neural precursor cells can serve as an effective and safe replacement therapy for CNS injury and degeneration.