Notch1蛋白在胚胎干细胞向神经细胞诱导分化过程中的表达

背景:胚胎干细胞是体内各种成熟细胞的"种子"细胞,是神经移植和发育基因功能研究的有利工具.Notch1信号足多种神经细胞有序分化的关键性调控通路,目前对其在胚胎干细胞诱导分化过程中的动态表达尚无报道.目的:探讨胚胎干细胞向神经细胞定向诱导分化过程中,跨膜信号分子Notch1蛋向的表达.设计、时间及地点:细胞观察,于2003-10/2004-10在中山大学中山眼科中心完成.材料:中山大学实验动物中心自建BALB/C小鼠胚胎干细胞Ⅵ株,具备XY染色体,正常核型比例80%以上,由中山大学中山眼科中心黄冰教授惠赠.方法:胚胎干细胞复苏后,加入含20%胎牛血清、106 IU/L小鼠白血病抑制因子的高糖DMEM细胞培养基,置于37℃,5%CO2培养箱中,两三天常规消化传代.向传至11代的胚胎干细胞中加入含20%胎牛血清、5×10-7mol/L维甲酸的高糖DMEM诱导分化培养基,设立诱导1,5,9d 3个观察时间点.主要观察指标:倒置相差显微镜观察细胞形态变化.免疫荧光化学检测成熟神经元标志性抗原MAP-2的表达.免疫细胞化学、Western Blot法及流式细胞术检测Notch1蛋白的表达.结果:胚胎干细胞呈克隆样生长,至诱导第9天大部分克隆周围为单一密集的神经网络.随着诱导时间延长,胚胎干细胞分化出的MAP-2阳性神经细胞数逐渐增多.胚胎干细胞克隆内的细胞几乎均呈Notch1强阳性或刚性表达,诱导分化后Notch1蛋白的表达随时间延长而逐渐降低(P<0.01).结论:在胚胎干细胞向神经细胞的诱导分化过程中,Notch1信号逐渐关闭,提示Notch1可能对胚胎干细胞向神经细胞的特异性分化起重要作用.

Expression of Notch1 protein in induction of embryonicstem cells into nerve cells

BACKGROUND: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), the seed cells of all mature cells in vivo, are useful tools for nerve transplantation and developmental gene function research. Notch1 signaling pathway is the key pathway to control the ordered neural development and differentiation of many kinds of neural cells, however, there is no report on the dynamic expression of Notch1 signal during the ESC differentiation to date. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Notch1 protein, transmembrane signal transduction molecule, during directional differentiation of embryonic stem cells into neural cells. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Cell research was carried out between October 2003 and October 2004 at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, SUN Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. MATERIALS: BALB/C mouse embryonic stem cell line Ⅵ (passage 11)was obtained from experimental animal center of SUN Yat-sen University, provided by professor Huang Bing. ESC culture medium was high-glucose DMEM medium with 20% bovine serum and 106 IU/L mouse leukemia inhibitory factor. Induced differentiation medium was high-glucose DMEM medium with 20% fetal bovine.serum and 5×107 mol/L retinoid acid(RA). METHODS: Passage 11 ESCs were resuscitated and incubated by ESC culture medium in incubator at 37℃ with 5% CO2. Passage 11 ESCs were subcultured after 2 or 3 days and RA was added into medium to induce differentiation. Three time points for observation were established: induced for 1, 5 and 9 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphological changes were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope, MAP-2 antigen expressed in differentiated cells was detected by immunofluorescence method. Immunocytochemistry, Western Blot, flow cytometry assay were used to investigate the Notch1 protein expression. RESULTS: ESCs presented clone-like growth. After induced by RA for 9 days, single neural network was achieved around most of the cell clusters. With the prolongation of induction, MAP-2 positive neural cells increased gradually. Almost all ESC clones expressed Notch1 protein strongly or positively, but Notehl protein expression decreased gradually after induced differentiation (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Notch1 signal shuts off progressively during induction of ESCs into neural cells, which suggests Notch1 may play an important role in the differentiation of ESCs into neural cells.