Neural Stem Cells, Neural Progenitors, and Neurotrophic Factors

High Fat Diet Multigenerationally Affects Hippocampal Neural Stem Cell Proliferation via Epigenetic Mechanisms

Early-life metabolic stress has been demonstrated to affect brain development, persistently influence brain plasticity and to exert multigenerational effects on cognitive functions. However, the impact of an ancestor’s diet on the adult neurogenesis of their descendants has not yet been investigated. Here, we studied the effects of maternal high fat diet (HFD) on hippocampal adult neurogenesis and the proliferation of neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) derived from the hippocampus of both the second and the third generations of progeny (F2HFD and F3HFD). Maternal HFD caused a multigenerational depletion of neurogenic niche in F2HFD and F3HFD mice. Moreover, NSPCs derived from HFD descendants showed altered expression of genes regulating stem cell proliferation and neurodifferentiation (i.e., Hes1, NeuroD1, Bdnf). Finally, ancestor HFD-related hyper-activation of both STAT3 and STAT5 induced enhancement of their binding on the regulatory sequences of Gfap gene and an epigenetic switch from permissive to repressive chromatin on the promoter of the NeuroD1 gene. Collectively, our data indicate that maternal HFD multigenerationally affects hippocampal adult neurogenesis via an epigenetic derangement of pro-neurogenic gene expression in NSPCs.

Unraveling the Mechanisms of Clinical Drugs-Induced Neural Tube Defects Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis

Chemotherapeutic agents such as methotrexate (MTX), raltitrexed (RTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), hydroxyurea (HU), and retinoic acid (RA), and valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic drug, all can cause malformations in the developing central nervous system (CNS), such as neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the common pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of NTDs caused by MTX, RTX, 5-FU, HU, RA, and VPA (MRFHRV), based on network pharmacology and molecular biology experiments. The MRFHRV targets were integrated with disease targets, to find the potential molecules related to MRFHRV-induced NTDs. Protein-protein interaction analysis and molecular docking were performed to analyze these common targets. Utilizing the kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways, we analyzed and searched the possible causative pathogenic mechanisms by crucial targets and the signaling pathway. Results showed that MRFHRV induced NTDs through several key targets (including TP53, MAPK1, HSP90AA1, ESR1, GRB2, HDAC1, EGFR, PIK3CA, RXRA, and FYN) and multiple signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt pathway, suggesting that abnormal proliferation and differentiation could be critical pathogenic contributors in NTDs induced by MRFHRV. These results were further validated by CCK8 assay in mouse embryonic stem cells and GFAP staining in embryonic brain tissue. This study indicated that chemotherapeutic and antiepileptic agents induced NTDs might through predicted targets TP53, MAPK1, GRB2, HDAC1, EGFR, PIK3CA, RXRA, and FYN and multiple signaling pathways. More caution was required for the clinical administration for women with childbearing potential and pregnant.

The transcription factor C/EBPβ promotes vascular endothelial growth factor A expression and neural stem cell expansion

The bZIP transcription factor CCAAT enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) exhibits neurogenic, neuritogenic, and pro-survival effects in the central nervous system. Here, we show that C/EBPβ regulates neural stem cell (NSC) expansion and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) level by acting on a C/EBPβ-responsive element within the Vegf-a promoter. As predicted, C/EBPβ depletion reduced VEGF-A production, NSC number, and average neurosphere size in proliferating cultures. Conversely, deletion of the C/EBPβ repressor CHOP-10 induced C/EBPβ and VEGF-A expression, while stimulating NSC expansion. These data highlight the role of C/EBPβ in regulating VEGF-A production and the growth of NSCs and suggest CHOP-dependent antagonism of C/EBPβ may function as a transcriptional rheostat linking stress-associated cues with stem cell quiescence among other pathological responses affecting the neurogenic niche.

Schizophrenia is defined by cell-specific neuropathology and multiple neurodevelopmental mechanisms in patient-derived cerebral organoids

Due to an inability to ethically access developing human brain tissue as well as identify prospective cases, early-arising neurodevelopmental and cell-specific signatures of Schizophrenia (Scz) have remained unknown and thus undefined. To overcome these challenges, we utilized patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate 3D cerebral organoids to model neuropathology of Scz during this critical period. We discovered that Scz organoids exhibited ventricular neuropathology resulting in altered progenitor survival and disrupted neurogenesis. This ultimately yielded fewer neurons within developing cortical fields of Scz organoids. Single-cell sequencing revealed that Scz progenitors were specifically depleted of neuronal programming factors leading to a remodeling of cell-lineages, altered differentiation trajectories, and distorted cortical cell-type diversity. While Scz organoids were similar in their macromolecular diversity to organoids generated from healthy controls (Ctrls), four GWAS factors (PTN, COMT, PLCL1, and PODXL) and peptide fragments belonging to the POU-domain transcription factor family (e.g., POU3F2/BRN2) were altered. This revealed that Scz organoids principally differed not in their proteomic diversity, but specifically in their total quantity of disease and neurodevelopmental factors at the molecular level. Single-cell sequencing subsequently identified cell-type specific alterations in neuronal programming factors as well as a developmental switch in neurotrophic growth factor expression, indicating that Scz neuropathology can be encoded on a cell-type-by-cell-type basis. Furthermore, single-cell sequencing also specifically replicated the depletion of BRN2 (POU3F2) and PTN in both Scz progenitors and neurons. Subsequently, in two mechanistic rescue experiments we identified that the transcription factor BRN2 and growth factor PTN operate as mechanistic substrates of neurogenesis and cellular survival, respectively, in Scz organoids. Collectively, our work suggests that multiple mechanisms of Scz exist in patient-derived organoids, and that these disparate mechanisms converge upon primordial brain developmental pathways such as neuronal differentiation, survival, and growth factor support, which may amalgamate to elevate intrinsic risk of Scz.

OUP accepted manuscript

Traumatic injury of the central nervous system (CNS) is a worldwide health problem affecting millions of people. Trauma of the CNS, that is, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI), lead to massive and progressive cell loss and axonal degeneration, usually with very limited regeneration. At present, there are no treatments to protect injured CNS tissue or to replace the lost tissue. Stem cells are a cell type that by definition can self-renew and give rise to multiple cell lineages. In recent years, therapies using stem and progenitor cells have shown promising effects in experimental CNS trauma, particularly in the acute-subacute stage, but also in chronic injuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms by which transplanted cells achieve the structural and/or functional improvements are often not clear. Stem cell therapies for CNS trauma can be categorized into 2 main concepts, transplantation of exogenous neural stem cells and neural progenitor cells and recruitment of endogenous stem and progenitor cells. In this review, focusing on the advances during the last decade, we will discuss the major cell therapies, the pros and cons of these 2 concepts for TBI and SCI, and the treatment strategies we believe will be successful.

Stem Cell Therapies for Cerebral Palsy and Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Systematic Review

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral palsy (CP) are some of the most common neurodevelopmental diseases. They have multifactorial origin, which means that each case may manifest differently from the others. In patients with ASD, symptoms associated with deficits in social communication and characteristic, repetitive types of behaviors or interests are predominant, while in patients with CP, motor disability is diagnosed with accompanying cognitive impairment of various degrees. In order to minimize their adverse effects, it is necessary to promptly diagnose and incorporate appropriate management, which can significantly improve patient quality of life. One of the therapeutic possibilities is stem cell therapy, already known from other branches of medicine, with high hopes for safe and effective treatment of these diseases. Undoubtedly, in the future we will have to face the challenges that will arise due to the still existing gaps in knowledge and the heterogeneity of this group of patients. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize briefly the latest achievements and advances in stem cell therapy for ASD and CP.

TGFβ-Neurotrophin Interactions in Heart, Retina, and Brain

Ischemic insults to the heart and brain, i.e., myocardial and cerebral infarction, respectively, are amongst the leading causes of death worldwide. While there are therapeutic options to allow reperfusion of ischemic myocardial and brain tissue by reopening obstructed vessels, mitigating primary tissue damage, post-infarction inflammation and tissue remodeling can lead to secondary tissue damage. Similarly, ischemia in retinal tissue is the driving force in the progression of neovascular eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which eventually lead to functional blindness, if left untreated. Intriguingly, the easily observable retinal blood vessels can be used as a window to the heart and brain to allow judgement of microvascular damages in diseases such as diabetes or hypertension. The complex neuronal and endocrine interactions between heart, retina and brain have also been appreciated in myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and retinal diseases. To describe the intimate relationship between the individual tissues, we use the terms heart-brain and brain-retina axis in this review and focus on the role of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and neurotrophins in regulation of these axes under physiologic and pathologic conditions. Moreover, we particularly discuss their roles in inflammation and repair following ischemic/neovascular insults. As there is evidence that TGFβ signaling has the potential to regulate expression of neurotrophins, it is tempting to speculate, and is discussed here, that cross-talk between TGFβ and neurotrophin signaling protects cells from harmful and/or damaging events in the heart, retina, and brain.

Stem cell therapies in cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder

Across disciplines, there is great anticipation that evolving cell therapies may finally provide a therapeutic option for conditions in dire need. These conditions are typically complex and their pathophysiology incompletely understood, hindering the development of robust preclinical models and the precise assessment of therapeutic effects in human studies. This article provides an overview of the status of cell therapy investigations in two common neurodevelopmental disorders, cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder. Challenges facing this line of study, including inherent heterogeneity, knowledge gaps, and unrealistic expectations, are discussed. Much progress has been made in the past decade, but to definitively determine if cell therapies have a role in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, both fields will need to evolve together. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The safety profile of reported cell therapies in children with neurodevelopmental disorders is encouraging. Efficacy trials in cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder are ongoing in the United States and Asia. Unresolved issues pertain to the properties of the cells being studied and the characteristics of the neurodevelopmental conditions themselves.

Environmental Enrichment as a Strategy to Confront Social Isolation Under the COVID-19 Pandemic

The moment of social isolation experienced by the world population due to the COVID-19 pandemic tends to trigger behavioral changes of different orders and on an exponential scale, regardless of social class, age, gender, or ethnicity. Environmental enrichment presents itself as an important strategy to face the social isolation imposed by the pandemic, in order to act as an important agent of induction of biological factors for cognitive and emotional development, favoring a better possibility of adaptation to isolation.

Human Neural Stem Cells Encoding ChAT Gene Restore Cognitive Function via Acetylcholine Synthesis, Aβ Elimination, and Neuroregeneration in APPswe/PS1dE9 Mice

In Alzheimer disease (AD) patients, degeneration of the cholinergic system utilizing acetylcholine for memory acquisition is observed. Since AD therapy using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are only palliative for memory deficits without slowing or reversing disease progress, there is a need for effective therapies, and stem cell-based therapeutic approaches targeting AD should fulfill this requirement. We established a human neural stem cell (NSC) line encoding choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene, an acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme. APPswe/PS1dE9 AD model mice transplanted with the F3.ChAT NSCs exhibited improved cognitive function and physical activity. Transplanted F3.ChAT NSCs in the AD mice differentiated into neurons and astrocytes, produced ChAT protein, increased the ACh level, and improved the learning and memory function. F3.ChAT cell transplantation reduced Aβ deposits by recovering microglial function; i.e., the down-regulation of β-secretase and inflammatory cytokines and up-regulation of Aβ-degrading enzyme neprilysin. F3.ChAT cells restored growth factors (GFs) and neurotrophic factors (NFs), and they induced the proliferation of NSCs in the host brain. These findings indicate that NSCs overexpressing ChAT can ameliorate complex cognitive and physical deficits of AD animals by releasing ACh, reducing Aβ deposit, and promoting neuroregeneration by the production of GFs/NFs. It is suggested that NSCs overexpressing ChAT could be a candidate for cell therapy in advanced AD therapy.

Tissue Engineering and Biomaterial Strategies to Elicit Endogenous Neuronal Replacement in the Brain

Neurogenesis in the postnatal mammalian brain is known to occur in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. These neurogenic niches serve as endogenous sources of neural precursor cells that could potentially replace neurons that have been lost or damaged throughout the brain. As an example, manipulation of the subventricular zone to augment neurogenesis has become a popular strategy for attempting to replace neurons that have been lost due to acute brain injury or neurodegenerative disease. In this review article, we describe current experimental strategies to enhance the regenerative potential of endogenous neural precursor cell sources by enhancing cell proliferation in neurogenic regions and/or redirecting migration, including pharmacological, biomaterial, and tissue engineering strategies. In particular, we discuss a novel replacement strategy based on exogenously biofabricated "living scaffolds" that could enhance and redirect endogenous neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone to specified regions throughout the brain. This approach utilizes the first implantable, biomimetic tissue-engineered rostral migratory stream, thereby leveraging the brain's natural mechanism for sustained neuronal replacement by replicating the structure and function of the native rostral migratory stream. Across all these strategies, we discuss several challenges that need to be overcome to successfully harness endogenous neural precursor cells to promote nervous system repair and functional restoration. With further development, the diverse and innovative tissue engineering and biomaterial strategies explored in this review have the potential to facilitate functional neuronal replacement to mitigate neurological and psychiatric symptoms caused by injury, developmental disorders, or neurodegenerative disease.

Runx1t1 promotes the neuronal differentiation in rat hippocampus

Background

Runt-related transcription factor 1 translocated to 1 (Runx1t1) is one of the members of the myeloid translocation gene family. Our previous work showed that Runx1t1 induced the neuronal differentiation of radial glia cells in vitro.

Methods

To better uncover the role of Runx1t1 in hippocampal neurogenesis, in this study, we further explore its localization and function during the hippocampal neurogenesis.

Results

Our results showed that insufficient expression of Runx1t1 reduced the neuronal differentiation, and overexpression of Runx1t1 promoted the neuronal differentiation in vitro. We also found that Runx1t1 localized in neurons but not astrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we found that Runx1t1 overexpression elevated the number of newborn neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results further proved that Runx1t1 could be worked as a regulator in the process of hippocampal neurogenesis.

Spatiotemporal expression of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor protein during neural tube development in embryos with neural tube defects

Leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR), as a neuroregulatory cytokine receptor, generally shows a neuroprotective effect in central nervous system injuries. In this study, to understand the effect of LIFR on pathogenesis of neural tube defects, we explored spatiotemporal expression of LIFR at different stages of fetal development in normal and neural tube defect embryos. Spina bifida aperta was induced with all-trans retinoic acid on embryonic day 10 in rats, and the spatiotemporal expression of LIFR was investigated in spina bifida aperta rats and healthy rats from embryonic day 11 to 17. Real time-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay were used to examine mRNA and protein expression of LIFR in healthy control and neural tube defect embryos. Results of the animal experiment demonstrated that expression of LIFR protein and mRNA in the spinal cords of normal rat embryos increased with embryonic development. LIFR was significantly downregulated in the spinal cords of spina bifida aperta rats compared with healthy rats from embryonic days 11 to 17. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of LIFR in placenta and spinal cord in spina bifida aperta rat embryos was decreased compared with that in control embryos at embryonic day 15. Results from human embryo specimens showed that LIFR mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated in spinal cords of human fetuses with neural tube defects compared with normal controls at a gestational age of 24 to 33 weeks. The results were consistent with the down-regulation of LIFR in the animal experiments. Our study revealed spatiotemporal changes in expression of LIFR during embryonic neurulation. Thus, LIFR might play a specific role in neural tube development. All animal and human experimental procedures were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China (approval No. 2016PS106K) on February 25, 2016.

Neuroprotective effects of human neural stem cells over-expressing choline acetyltransferase in a middle cerebral artery occlusion model

Stroke is one of the most-devastating brain diseases causing acute death or permanent disability. Although tissue-type plasminogen activator was approved by Food and Drug Administration for early reperfusion of the occluded vessels, oxidative injury may cause extensive brain infarction. Accordingly, there is a need for effective neuroprotection during reperfusion, and stem cell-based therapeutic approaches should fulfill this requirement. We established human neural stem cells (NSCs) encoding gene of choline acetyltransferase (F3.ChAT), an acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, and investigated whether infusion of the F3.ChAT cells attenuate the ischemia-reperfusion brain damage in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). F3.ChAT cells were found to produce much higher amounts of ChAT as well as neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory neurotrophins than their parental F3 NSCs. After 2-h occlusion, the artery was reperfused, along with intravenous infusion of the stem cells (1 × 10⁶ cells/rat). Administration of the F3.ChAT cells markedly reduced the infarction volume and improved both the cognitive dysfunction and behavioural deficits of MCAO animals, in which F3.ChAT cells were superior to F3 cells. F3.ChAT cells not only restored microtubule-associated protein-2, a neuronal cytoskeletal protein, and preserved microvessels, but also suppressed lipid peroxidation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the brain tissues. The results demonstrate that early intravenous infusion of NSCs expressing ChAT and neurotrophins attenuate brain and capillary injuries and restore neurobehavioural functions via neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities, and that F3.ChAT cells could be a candidate for the neuroprotection and functional recovery of acute stroke patients.

Hydrogel-Based Bioprocess for Scalable Manufacturing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem Cells

Neural stem cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-NSCs) are of great value for modeling diseases, developing drugs, and treating neurological disorders. However, manufacturing high-quantity and -quality hPSC-NSCs, especially for clinical applications, remains a challenge. Here, we report a chemically defined, high-yield, and scalable bioprocess for manufacturing hPSC-NSCs. hPSCs are expanded and differentiated into NSCs in microscale tubes made with alginate hydrogels. The tubes are used to isolate cells from the hydrodynamic stresses in the culture vessel and limit the radial diameter of the cell mass to less than 400 μm to ensure efficient mass transport during the culture. The hydrogel tubes provide uniform, reproducible, and cell-friendly microspaces and microenvironments for cells. With this new technology, we showed that hPSC-NSCs could be produced in 12 days with high viability (∼95%), high purity (>90%), and high yield (∼5 × 10⁸ cells/mL of microspace). The volumetric yield is about 250 times more than the current state-of-the-art. Whole transcriptome analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that hPSC-NSCs made by this process had a similar gene expression to hPSC-NSCs made by the conventional culture technology. The produced hPSC-NSCs could mature into both neurons and glial cells in vitro and in vivo. The process developed in this paper can be used to produce large numbers of hPSC-NSCs for various biomedical applications in the future.

Transplantation of hypoxic preconditioned neural stem cells benefits functional recovery via enhancing neurotrophic secretion after spinal cord injury in rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating, costly, and common pathological condition that affects the function of central nervous system (CNS). To date, there are few promising therapeutic strategies available for SCI. To look for a suitable therapeutic strategy, we have developed a sublethal hypoxic preconditioning procedure using Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, LDH releasing, and cell viability assays in vitro. Meanwhile, we have examined the benefits of neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation prior to hypoxic preconditioning on functional recovery and potential mechanism via MRI screening, H&E, and Nissl staining, immunofluorescence staining and Elisa assays. Our data showed that transplantation of hypoxic prconditioned NSCs could enhance neuronal survival, especially 5-TH⁺ and ChAT⁺ neurons, in the injured spinal cord to reinforce functional benefits. The hypoxia exposure upregulated HIF-1α, neurotrophic and growth factors including neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, functional recovery, including locomotor and hypersensitivities to mechanical and thermal stimulation assessed via behavioral and sensory tests, improved significantly in rats with engraftment of NSCs after hypoxia exposure from day 14 post-SCI, compared with the control and N-NSCs groups. In short, the approach employed in this study could result in functional recovery via upregulating neurotrophic and growth factors, which implies that hypoxic preconditioning strategy could serve as an effective and feasible strategy for cell-based therapy in the treatment of SCI in rats.

Human Neural Stem Cells with GDNF Site-Specific Integration at AAVS1 by Using AAV Vectors Retained Their Stemness

The neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew, and to migrate to pathologically altered regions of the central nervous system. Glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) could protect dopamine neurons and rescue motor neurons in vivo, which has been proposed as a promising candidate for the treatments of degenerative neurological diseases. In order to combine the advantages of neurotrophic factors and stem cells in clinical therapy, we established the modified hNSCs that has site-specific integration of GDNF gene by using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors. The hNSCs were co-infected by rAAV2-EGFP-GDNF and rAAV2-SVAV2 which provide integrase to specifically integrate GDNF gene into AAVS1 site. The GDNF-hNSCs maintained their original stem cell characteristics and the ability to differentiate into neurons in vitro. In the animal model, the GDNF-hNSCs were specifically transplanted into CA1 area of hippocampi and could migrate to the dentate gyrus region and differentiate into neuronal cells while maintaining GDNF expression. hNSCs with GDNF gene site-specific integration at AAVS1 by using AAV vectors retained their stemness and effectively expressed GDNF, which indicates the potential of employing transplanted hNPCs for treatment of brain injuries and degenerative neurological diseases.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in acute brain trauma

Aim: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of intravenously transplanted rat bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) in an acute brain trauma model using serial 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in rat models. Animals, methods: Trauma models were made using a controlled cortical impact injury device. The stem cell treatment group was treated with intravenous injections of BMSCs, and models without stem cell therapy comprised the control group. Serial 18F-FDG PET images were obtained 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after trauma. The difference in 18F-FDG uptake between day 1 and each time point after trauma was analyzed with SPM2 (uncorrected p < 0.005). Results: The stem cell treatment group demonstrated significantly higher 18F-FDG uptake in the right parietal region at 14 days after trauma than at 1 day after trauma. An increase in glucose metabolism in the right parietal cortex appeared on days 21 and 28 after trauma in the group without stem cell treatment. The 18F-FDG uptake in the brain was improved over a broader area, including the right parietal and right primary somatosensory cortex, on days 21 and 28 after trauma in the stem cell treatment group compared with the group without stem cell treatment. Conclusion: BMSC therapy in trauma models led to improved glucose metabolism. This result might support the therapeutic effect of stem cells in brain trauma.

Neural Stem Cells Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Their Use in Models of CNS Injury

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are derived from differentiated cells by different reprogramming techniques, by introducing specific transcription factors responsible for pluripotency. Induced pluripotent stem cells can serve as an excellent source for differentiated neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPs). Several methods and protocols are utilized to create a robust number of NSCs/NPs without jeopardizing the safety issues required for in vivo applications. A variety of disease-specific iPS cells have been used to study nervous system diseases. In this chapter, we will focus on some of the derivation and differentiation approaches and the application of iPS-NPs in the treatment of spinal cord injury and stroke.

Physical exercise induces hippocampal neurogenesis and prevents cognitive decline

Accumulating evidence from animal and human research indicate that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a key role in cognition. Meanwhile, cognitive decline is well known to associate with ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, prevention of hippocampal neurogenesis reduction should be critical for these diseases. Physical exercise, a potent enhancer of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, has emerged as a potential therapy or an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for cognitive decline. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on hippocampal neurogenesis and the incorporation of new born neurons into the neuronal network in humans and in rodents. By focusing on hippocampal neurogenesis, we illustrate the role and possible mechanisms of physical exercise in cognition preservation.

BDNF promotes human neural stem cell growth via GSK-3β-mediated crosstalk with the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays important roles in neural stem cell (NSC) growth. In this study, we investigated whether BDNF exerts its neurotrophic effects through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human embryonic spinal cord NSCs (hESC-NSCs) in vitro. We found an increase in hESC-NSC growth by BDNF overexpression. Furthermore, expression of Wnt1, Frizzled1 and Dsh was upregulated, whereas GSK-3β expression was downregulated. In contrast, hESC-NSC growth was decreased by BDNF RNA interference. BDNF, Wnt1 and β-catenin components were all downregulated, whereas GSK-3β was upregulated. Next, we treated hESC-NSCs with 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (BIO), a small molecule inhibitor of GSK-3β. BIO reduced the effects of BDNF upregulation/downregulation on the cell number, soma size and differentiation, and suppressed the effect of BDNF modulation on the Wnt signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that BDNF promotes hESC-NSC growth in vitro through crosstalk with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and that this interaction may be mediated by GSK-3β.

Therapeutic physical exercise in neural injury: friend or foe?

[Purpose] The intensity of therapeutic physical exercise is complex and sometimes controversial in patients with neural injuries. This review assessed whether therapeutic physical exercise is beneficial according to the intensity of the physical exercise. [Methods] The authors identified clinically or scientifically relevant articles from PubMed that met the inclusion criteria. [Results] Exercise training can improve body strength and lead to the physiological adaptation of skeletal muscles and the nervous system after neural injuries. Furthermore, neurophysiological and neuropathological studies show differences in the beneficial effects of forced therapeutic exercise in patients with severe or mild neural injuries. Forced exercise alters the distribution of muscle fiber types in patients with neural injuries. Based on several animal studies, forced exercise may promote functional recovery following cerebral ischemia via signaling molecules in ischemic brain regions. [Conclusions] This review describes several types of therapeutic forced exercise and the controversy regarding the therapeutic effects in experimental animals versus humans with neural injuries. This review also provides a therapeutic strategy for physical therapists that grades the intensity of forced exercise according to the level of neural injury.

The Synergistic Local Immunosuppressive Effects of Neural Stem Cells Expressing Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase (IDO) in an Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) Animal Model

Neurodegenerative diseases provoke robust immunological reactions in the central nervous system (CNS), which further deteriorate the neural tissue damage. We hypothesized that the expression levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme that has potent immune suppressive activities, in neural stem cells (NSCs) would have synergistic therapeutic effects against neurodegenerative diseases, since NSCs themselves have low IDO expression. In this study, the synergistic immune suppressive effects of rat fetal NSCs expressing IDO (rfNSCs-IDO) were validated by mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) in vitro and an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model in vivo. rfNSCs-IDO showed significantly more suppressive effects on T cell proliferation in the MLR compared to control rfNSCs (rfNSCs-Cont). Importantly, IDO inhibition using 1-methyl-DL-tryptophan (1-MT), an IDO inhibitor, reversed the synergistic effects, confirming IDO-specific effects in rfNSCs-IDO. In the EAE animal model, systemic rfNSCs-IDO injections resulted in significant local immune suppression in the cervical lymph nodes and CNS, evidenced by a reduction in the number of activated T lymphocytes and an increase in regulatory T cell numbers, which induced significantly fewer clinical symptoms and faster recovery. In contrast, rfNSCs-Cont failed to reduce symptoms in the EAE animal models, although they showed local immune suppression, which was significantly less than that in rfNSCs-IDO. Taken together, IDO expression in NSCs synergistically potentiates the immune suppression activities of NSCs and could be applicable for the development of therapeutic modalities against various neurodegenerative diseases.

Multiobjective triclustering of time-series transcriptome data reveals key genes of biological processes

Background

Exploratory analysis of multi-dimensional high-throughput datasets, such as microarray gene expression time series, may be instrumental in understanding the genetic programs underlying numerous biological processes. In such datasets, variations in the gene expression profiles are usually observed across replicates and time points. Thus mining the temporal expression patterns in such multi-dimensional datasets may not only provide insights into the key biological processes governing organs to grow and develop but also facilitate the understanding of the underlying complex gene regulatory circuits.

Results

In this work we have developed an evolutionary multi-objective optimization for our previously introduced triclustering algorithm δ-TRIMAX. Its aim is to make optimal use of δ-TRIMAX in extracting groups of co-expressed genes from time series gene expression data, or from any 3D gene expression dataset, by adding the powerful capabilities of an evolutionary algorithm to retrieve overlapping triclusters. We have compared the performance of our newly developed algorithm, EMOA- δ-TRIMAX, with that of other existing triclustering approaches using four artificial dataset and three real-life datasets. Moreover, we have analyzed the results of our algorithm on one of these real-life datasets monitoring the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) into mature cardiomyocytes. For each group of co-expressed genes belonging to one tricluster, we identified key genes by computing their membership values within the tricluster. It turned out that to a very high percentage, these key genes were significantly enriched in Gene Ontology categories or KEGG pathways that fitted very well to the biological context of cardiomyocytes differentiation.

Conclusions

EMOA- δ-TRIMAX has proven instrumental in identifying groups of genes in transcriptomic data sets that represent the functional categories constituting the biological process under study. The executable file can be found at http://www.bioinf.med.uni-goettingen.de/fileadmin/download/EMOA-delta-TRIMAX.tar.gz.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12859-015-0635-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Human olfactory bulb neural stem cells mitigate movement disorders in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder characterized by the loss of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells that are capable of differentiating into different neuronal and glial elements. The production of DA neurons from NSCs could potentially alleviate behavioral deficits in Parkinsonian patients; timely intervention with NSCs might provide a therapeutic strategy for PD. We have isolated and generated highly enriched cultures of neural stem/progenitor cells from the human olfactory bulb (OB). If NSCs can be obtained from OB, it would alleviate ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic tissue, and provide an easily accessible cell source that would preclude the need for invasive brain surgery. Following isolation and culture, olfactory bulb neural stem cells (OBNSCs) were genetically engineered to express hNGF and GFP. The hNFG-GFP-OBNSCs were transplanted into the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamin (6-OHDA) Parkinsonian rats. The grafted cells survived in the lesion environment for more than eight weeks after implantation with no tumor formation. The grafted cells differentiated in vivo into oligodendrocyte-like (25 ± 2.88%), neuron-like (52.63 ± 4.16%), and astrocyte -like (22.36 ± 1.56%) lineages, which we differentiated based on morphological and immunohistochemical criteria. Transplanted rats exhibited a significant partial correction in stepping and placing in non-pharmacological behavioral tests, pole and rotarod tests. Taken together, our data encourage further investigations of the possible use of OBNSCs as a promising cell-based therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease.

Beneficial Effect of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Precursors in Spinal Cord Injury Repair

Despite advances in our understanding and research of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), their use in clinical practice is still limited due to lack of preclinical experiments. Neural precursors (NPs) derived from a clone of human iPSCs (IMR90) were used to treat a rat spinal cord lesion 1 week after induction. Functional recovery was evaluated using the BBB, beam walking, rotarod, and plantar tests. Lesion morphology, endogenous axonal sprouting, graft survival, and iPSC-NP differentiation were analyzed immunohistochemically. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to evaluate the effect of transplanted iPSC-NPs on endogenous regenerative processes and also to monitor their behavior after transplantation. Human iPSC-NPs robustly survived in the lesion, migrated, and partially filled the lesion cavity during the entire period of observation. Transplanted animals displayed significant motor improvement already from the second week after the transplantation of iPSC-NPs. qPCR revealed the increased expression of human neurotrophins 8 weeks after transplantation. Simultaneously, the white and gray matter were spared in the host tissue. The grafted cells were immunohistochemically positive for doublecortin, MAP2, βIII-tubulin, GFAP, and CNPase 8 weeks after transplantation. Human iPSC-NPs further matured, and 17 weeks after transplantation differentiated toward interneurons, dopaminergic neurons, serotoninergic neurons, and ChAT-positive motoneurons. Human iPSC-NPs possess neurotrophic properties that are associated with significant early functional improvement and the sparing of spinal cord tissue. Their ability to differentiate into tissue-specific neurons leads to the long-term restoration of the lesioned tissue, making the cells a promising candidate for future cell-based therapy of SCI.

Effect of neural stem cell transplantation on cognitive functions of mice after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

This study is aimed to determine the effect of transplantation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) isolated from fetal hippocampus on cognitive functions of experimental animals after short-term global cerebral ischemia. NPCs were isolated from hippocampus of FVB-Cg-Tg(GFPU)5Nagy/J mice, transgenic by the GFP. Ischemic brain injury in FVB “wild” type mice was modeled by bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries for 20 min. GFP-positive NPCs were stereotaxically transplanted into the hippocampus of experimental animals in 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion. Cognitive functions were evaluated using Morris water maze. Results of this study showed that global short-term cerebral ischemia resulted into cognitive impairments in mice. Stereotaxic transplantation of NPCs promoted the cognitive function recovery in experimental animals after ischemic brain injury. Thus, the data indicates that transplantation of NPCs may have a therapeutic effect in treating of ischemic stroke.

Efficient and rapid derivation of primitive neural stem cells and generation of brain subtype neurons from human pluripotent stem cells

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells, are unique cell sources for disease modeling, drug discovery screens, and cell therapy applications. The first step in producing neural lineages from hPSCs is the generation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Current methods of NSC derivation involve the time-consuming, labor-intensive steps of an embryoid body generation or coculture with stromal cell lines that result in low-efficiency derivation of NSCs. In this study, we report a highly efficient serum-free pluripotent stem cell neural induction medium that can induce hPSCs into primitive NSCs (pNSCs) in 7 days, obviating the need for time-consuming, laborious embryoid body generation or rosette picking. The pNSCs expressed the neural stem cell markers Pax6, Sox1, Sox2, and Nestin; were negative for Oct4; could be expanded for multiple passages; and could be differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, in addition to the brain region-specific neuronal subtypes GABAergic, dopaminergic, and motor neurons. Global gene expression of the transcripts of pNSCs was comparable to that of rosette-derived and human fetal-derived NSCs. This work demonstrates an efficient method to generate expandable pNSCs, which can be further differentiated into central nervous system neurons and glia with temporal, spatial, and positional cues of brain regional heterogeneity. This method of pNSC derivation sets the stage for the scalable production of clinically relevant neural cells for cell therapy applications in good manufacturing practice conditions.

Perspectives on the use of stem cells for autism treatment

Autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders. ASDs are clinically defined by deficits in communication, social skills, and repetitive and/or restrictive interests and behaviours. With the prevalence rates for ASDs rapidly increasing, the need for effective therapies for autism is a priority for biomedical research. Currently available medications do not target the core symptoms, can have markedly adverse side-effects, and are mainly palliative for negative behaviours. The development of molecular and regenerative interventions is progressing rapidly, and medicine holds great expectations for stem cell therapies. Cells could be designed to target the observed molecular mechanisms of ASDs, that is, abnormal neurotransmitter regulation, activated microglia, mitochondrial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier disruptions, and chronic intestinal inflammation. Presently, the paracrine, secretome, and immunomodulatory effects of stem cells would appear to be the likely mechanisms of application for ASD therapeutics. This review will focus on the potential use of the various types of stem cells: embryonic, induced pluripotential, fetal, and adult stem cells as targets for ASD therapeutics.

Comparison of in vivo immunomodulatory effects of intravenous and intraperitoneal administration of adipose-tissue mesenchymal stem cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Due to their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory competence, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered as a suitable candidate for treatment of autoimmune diseases. Earlier studies have shown that treatment with bone marrow-derived MSCs may modulate immune responses and reduce disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Here we compare the immune regulatory properties of adipose tissue MSCs (AT-MSCs) in two independent routes of injection; namely intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intravenous (i.v.). We investigated the splenic CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cell population known as regulatory T cells, by flow cytometry and their brain cell infiltration by hematoxylin-eosin staining in both i.p. and i.v. routes of AT-MSC administration. We also evaluated the inflammatory cytokine profile including IFN-γ and IL-17 and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 by ELISA technique in both routes of cell administration. We show that the i.p. route has a more pronounced effect in maintaining the splenic CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cell population and increase of IL-4 secretion. We also showed that i.p. injection of cells resulted in lower IFN-γ secretion and reduced cell infiltration in brain more effectively as compared to the i.v. route. The effects of AT-MSCs on down-regulation of splenocyte proliferation, IL-17 secretion and alleviating the severity of clinical scores were similar in i.p. and i.v. routes. Our data show that, due to their immunomodulative and neuroprotective effects, AT-MSCs may be a proper candidate for stem cell based MS therapy.

Improvement of cognitive function and physical activity of aging mice by human neural stem cells over-expressing choline acetyltransferase

Aging is characterized by progressive loss of cognitive and memory functions as well as decrease in physical activities. In the present study, a human neural stem cell line (F3 NSC) over-expressing choline acetyltransferase (F3.ChAT), an enzyme responsible for acetylcholine synthesis, was generated and transplanted in the brain of 18-month-old male ICR mice. Four weeks post-transplantation, neurobehavioral functions, expression of ChAT enzyme, production of acetylcholine and neurotrophic factors, and expression of cholinergic nervous system markers in transplanted animals were investigated. F3.ChAT NSCs markedly improved both the cognitive function and physical activity of aging animals, in parallel with the elevation of brain acetylcholine level. Transplanted F3 and F3.ChAT cells were found to differentiate into neurons and astrocytes, and to produce ChAT proteins. Transplantation of the stem cells increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF), enhanced expression of Trk B, and restored host microtubule-associated protein 2 and cholinergic nervous system. The results demonstrate that human NSCs over-expressing ChAT improve cognitive function and physical activity of aging mice, not only by producing ACh directly but also by restoring cholinergic neuronal integrity, which might be mediated by neurotrophins BDNF and NGF.

Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve cognitive function and physical activity in ageing mice

Brain ageing leads to atrophy and degeneration of the cholinergic nervous system, resulting in profound neurobehavioral and cognitive dysfunction from decreased acetylcholine biosynthesis and reduced secretion of growth and neurotrophic factors. Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) were intravenously (1 × 10(6) cells) or intracerebroventricularly (4 × 10(5) cells) transplanted into the brains of 18-month-old mice once or four times at 2-week intervals. Transplantation of ADMSCs improved both locomotor activity and cognitive function in the aged animals, in parallel with recovery of acetylcholine levels in brain tissues. Transplanted cells differentiated into neurons and, in part, into astrocytes and produced choline acetyltransferase proteins. Transplantation of ADMSCs restored microtubule-associated protein 2 in brain tissue and enhanced Trk B expression and the concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor. These results indicate that human ADMSCs differentiate into neural cells in the brain microenvironment and can restore physical and cognitive functions of aged mice not only by increasing acetylcholine synthesis but also by restoring neuronal integrity that may be mediated by growth/neurotrophic factors. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Guiding Differentiation of Stem Cells in Vivo by Tetracycline-Controlled Expression of Key Transcription Factors

Transplantation of stem or progenitor cells is an attractive strategy for cell replacement therapy. However, poor long-term survival and insufficiently reproducible differentiation to functionally appropriate cells in vivo still present major obstacles for translation of this methodology to clinical applications. Numerous experimental studies have revealed that the expression of just a few transcription factors can be sufficient to drive stem cell differentiation toward a specific cell type, to transdifferentiate cells from one fate to another, or to dedifferentiate mature cells to pluripotent stem/progenitor cells (iPSCs). We thus propose here to apply the strategy of expressing the relevant key transcription factors to guide the differentiation of transplanted cells to the desired cell fate in vivo. To achieve this requires tools allowing us to control the expression of these genes in the transplant. Here, we describe drug-inducible systems that allow us to sequentially and timely activate gene expression from the outside, with a particular emphasis on the Tet system, which has been widely and successfully used in stem cells. These regulatory systems offer a tool for strictly limiting gene expression to the respective optimal stage after transplantation. This approach will direct the differentiation of the immature stem/progenitor cells in vivo to the desired cell type.

An update on spinal cord injury research

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can have a range of debilitating effects and permanently alter the capabilities and quality of life of survivors. The first specialized centers of care for SCI were established in 1944 and since then an increasing amount of research has been carried out in this area. Despite this, the present treatment and care levels for SCI are not comparable to those in other areas of medicine. In the clinic, the aim of SCI treatment is primarily to limit secondary damage by reducing compression in trauma spots and stabilizing the spinal column. Currently, no effective strategy for functional recovery is offered. In this review, we focus on research progress on the molecular mechanisms underlying SCI, and assess the treatment outcomes of SCI in animal models, i.e., neurotrophins and stem cells are discussed as pre-clinical therapies in animal models. We also assess the resources available and national research projects carried out on SCI in China in recent years, as well as making recommendations for the future allocation of funds in this area.

Stem cell-based therapy for spinal cord injury

Stem cells (SCs) represent a new therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury (SCI) by enabling improved sensory and motor functions in animal models. The main goal of SC-based therapy for SCI is the replacement of neurons and glial cells that undergo cell death soon after injury. Stem cells are able to promote remyelination via oligodendroglia cell replacement to produce trophic factors enhancing neurite outgrowth, axonal elongation, and fiber density and to activate resident or transplanted progenitor cells across the lesion cavity. While several SC transplantation strategies have shown promising yet partial efficacy, mechanistic proof is generally lacking and is arguably the largest impediment toward faster progress and clinical application. The main challenge ahead is to spur on cooperation between clinicians, researchers, and patients in order to define and optimize the mechanisms of SC function and to establish the ideal source/s of SCs that produce efficient and also safe therapeutic approaches.

Recent therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury treatment: possible role of stem cells

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in significant dysfunction and disability. A series of treatments have been proposed to prevent and overcome the formation of the glial scar and inhibitory factors to axon regrowth. In the last decade, cell therapy has emerged as a new tool for several diseases of the nervous system. Stem cells act as minipumps providing trophic and immunomodulatory factors to enhance axonal growth, to modulate the environment, and to reduce neuroinflammation. This capability can be boosted by genetical manipulation to deliver trophic molecules. Different types of stem cells have been tested, according to their properties and the therapeutic aims. They differ from each other for origin, developmental stage, stage of differentiation, and fate lineage. Related to this, stem cells differentiating into neurons could be used for cell replacement, even though the feasibility that stem cells after transplantation in the adult lesioned spinal cord can differentiate into neurons, integrate within neural circuits, and emit axons reaching the muscle is quite remote. The timing of cell therapy has been variable, and may be summarized in the acute and chronic phases of disease, when stem cells interact with a completely different environment. Even though further experimental studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action, the therapeutic, and the side effects of cell therapy, several clinical protocols have been tested or are under trial. Here, we report the state-of-the-art of cell therapy in SCI, in terms of feasibility, outcome, and side effects.

Human neural stem cells genetically modified to express human nerve growth factor (NGF) gene restore cognition in the mouse with ibotenic acid-induced cognitive dysfunction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by degeneration and loss of neurons and synapses throughout the brain, causing the progressive decline in cognitive function leading to dementia. No effective treatment is currently available. Nerve growth factor (NGF) therapy has been proposed as a potential treatment of preventing degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in AD. In a previous study, AD patient's own fibroblasts genetically modified to produce NGF were transplanted directly into the brain and protected cholinergic neurons from degeneration and improved cognitive function in AD patients. In the present study, human neural stem cells (NSCs) are used in place of fibroblasts to deliver NGF in ibotenic acid-induced learning-deficit rats. Intrahippocampal injection of ibotenic acid caused severe neuronal loss, resulting in learning and memory deficit. NGF protein released by F3.NGF human NSCs in culture medium is 10-fold over the control F3 naive NSCs at 1.2 µg/10(6) cells/day. Overexpression of NGF in F3.NGF cells induced improved survival of NSCs from cytotoxic agents H2O2, Aβ, or ibotenic acid in vitro. Intrahippocampal transplantation of F3.NGF cells was found to express NGF and fully improved the learning and memory function of ibotenic acid-challenged animals. Transplanted F3.NGF cells were found all over the brain and differentiated into neurons and astrocytes. The present study demonstrates that human NSCs overexpressing NGF improve cognitive function of learning-deficit model mice.

Intraventricularly injected Olig2-NSCs attenuate established relapsing-remitting EAE in mice

In multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory relapsing demyelinating disease, failure to control or repair damage leads to progressive neurological dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Implantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has been shown to promote repair and functional recovery in the acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model for MS; the major therapeutic mechanism of these NSCs appeared to be immune regulation. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of intraventricularly injected NSCs in chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CREAE), the animal disease model that is widely accepted to mimic most closely recurrent inflammatory demyelination lesions as observed in relapsing-remitting MS. In addition, we assessed whether priming these NSCs to become oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) by transient overexpression of Olig2 would further promote functional recovery, for example, by contributing to actual remyelination. Upon injection at the onset of the acute phase or the relapse phase of CREAE, NSCs as well as Olig2-NSCs directly migrated toward active lesions in the spinal cord as visualized by in vivo bioluminescence and biofluorescence imaging, and once in the spinal cord, the majority of Olig2-NSCs, in contrast to NSCs, differentiated into OPCs. The survival of Olig2-NSCs was significantly higher than that of injected control NSCs, which remained undifferentiated. Nevertheless, both Olig2-NSCs and NSC significantly reduced the clinical signs of acute and relapsing disease and, in case of Olig2-NSCs, even completely abrogated relapsing disease when administered early after onset of acute disease. We provide the first evidence that NSCs and in particular NSC-derived OPCs (Olig2-NSCs) ameliorate established chronic relapsing EAE in mice. Our experimental data in established neurological disease in mice indicate that such therapy may be effective in relapsing-remitting MS preventing chronic progressive disease.

Teratoma formation of human embryonic stem cells in three-dimensional perfusion culture bioreactors

Teratoma formation in mice is today the most stringent test for pluripotency that is available for human pluripotent cells, as chimera formation and tetraploid complementation cannot be performed with human cells. The teratoma assay could also be applied for assessing the safety of human pluripotent cell-derived cell populations intended for therapeutic applications. In our study we examined the spontaneous differentiation behaviour of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in a perfused 3D multi-compartment bioreactor system and compared it with differentiation of hESCs and human induced pluripotent cells (hiPSCs) cultured in vitro as embryoid bodies and in vivo in an experimental mouse model of teratoma formation. Results from biochemical, histological/immunohistological and ultrastuctural analyses revealed that hESCs cultured in bioreactors formed tissue-like structures containing derivatives of all three germ layers. Comparison with embryoid bodies and the teratomas revealed a high degree of similarity of the tissues formed in the bioreactor to these in the teratomas at the histological as well as transcriptional level, as detected by comparative whole-genome RNA expression profiling. The 3D culture system represents a novel in vitro model that permits stable long-term cultivation, spontaneous multi-lineage differentiation and tissue formation of pluripotent cells that is comparable to in vivo differentiation. Such a model is of interest, e.g. for the development of novel cell differentiation strategies. In addition, the 3D in vitro model could be used for teratoma studies and pluripotency assays in a fully defined, controlled environment, alternatively to in vivo mouse models.

Stem cells in drug screening for neurodegenerative disease

Because the average human life span has recently increased, the number of patients who are diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases has escalated. Recent advances in stem cell research have given us access to unlimited numbers of multi-potent or pluripotent cells for screening for new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a good model with which to screen effective drugs that increase neurogenesis. Recent technologies for human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can provide human cells that harbour specific neurodegenerative disease. This article discusses the use of NSCs, ESCs and iPSCs for neurodegenerative drug screening and toxicity evaluation. In addition, we introduce drugs or natural products that are recently identified to affect the stem cell fate to generate neurons or glia.

Human blood-vessel-derived stem cells for tissue repair and regeneration

Multipotent stem/progenitor cells with similar developmental potentials have been independently identified from diverse human tissue/organ cultures. The increasing recognition of the vascular/perivascular origin of mesenchymal precursors suggested blood vessels being a systemic source of adult stem/progenitor cells. Our group and other laboratories recently isolated multiple stem/progenitor cell subsets from blood vessels of adult human tissues. Each of the three structural layers of blood vessels: intima, media, and adventitia has been found to include at least one precursor population, that is, myogenic endothelial cells (MECs), pericytes, and adventitial cells (ACs), respectively. MECs and pericytes efficiently regenerate myofibers in injured and dystrophic skeletal muscles as well as improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. The applications of ACs in vascular remodeling and angiogenesis/vasculogenesis have been examined. Our recent finding that MECs and pericytes can be purified from cryogenically banked human primary muscle cell culture further indicates their potential applications in personalized regenerative medicine.

CDNF protects the nigrostriatal dopamine system and promotes recovery after MPTP treatment in mice

Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) is a recently discovered protein, which belongs to the evolutionarily conserved CDNF/MANF family of neurotrophic factors. The degeneration of dopamine neurons following 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatment is well characterized, and efficacy in this model is considered a standard criterion for development of parkinsonian therapies. MPTP is a neurotoxin, which produces parkinsonian symptoms in humans and in C57/Bl6 mice. To date, there are no reports about the effects of CDNF on dopamine neuron survival or function in the MPTP rodent model, a critical gap. Therefore, we studied whether CDNF has neuroprotective and neurorestorative properties for the nigrostriatal dopamine system after MPTP injections in C57/Bl6 mice. We found that bilateral striatal CDNF injections, given 20 h before MPTP, improved horizontal and vertical motor behavior. CDNF pretreatment increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in the striatum and in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr), as well as the number of TH-positive cells in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Posttreatment with CDNF, given 1 week after MPTP injections, increased horizontal and vertical motor behavior of mice, as well as dopamine fiber densities in the striatum and the number of TH-positive cells in SNpc. CDNF did not alter any of the analyzed dopaminergic biomarkers or locomotor behavior in MPTP-untreated animals. We conclude that striatal CDNF administration is both neuroprotective and neurorestorative for the TH-positive cells in the nigrostriatal dopamine system in the MPTP model, which supports the development of CDNF-based treatment for Parkinson's disease.

Human neural stem cells overexpressing choline acetyltransferase restore cognitive function of kainic acid-induced learning and memory deficit animals

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which is characterized by loss of memory and cognitive function. In AD patients dysfunction of the cholinergic system is the main cause of cognitive disorders, and decreased activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), an enzyme responsible for acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis, is observed. In the present study we investigated if brain transplantation of human neural stem cells (NSCs) genetically modified to encode ChAT gene improves cognitive function of kainic acid (KA)-induced learning deficit rats. Intrahippocampal injection of KA to hippocampal CA3 region caused severe neuronal loss, resulting in profound learning and memory deficit. F3.ChAT human NSCs transplanted intracerebroventricularly improved fully the learning and memory function of KA-induced learning deficit animals, in parallel with the elevation of ACh levels in cerebrospinal fluid. F3.ChAT human NSCs migrated to the KA-induced injury site (CA3) and differentiated into neurons and astrocytes. The present study demonstrates that human NSCs expressing ChAT have lesion-tropic property and improve cognitive function of learning deficit model rats with hippocampal injury by increasing ACh level.

Role of mesenchymal stem cells in neurogenesis and nervous system repair

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attractive candidates for use in regenerative medicine since they are easily accessible and can be readily expanded in vivo, and possess unique immunogenic properties. Moreover, these multipotent cells display intriguing environmental adaptability and secretory capacity. The ability of MSCs to migrate and engraft in a range of tissues has received significant attention. Evidence indicating that MSC transplantation results in functional improvement in animal models of neurological disorders has highlighted exciting potential for their use in neurological cell-based therapies. The manner in which MSCs elicit positive effects in the damaged nervous system remains unclear. Cell fusion and/or 'transdifferentiation' phenomena, by which MSCs have been proposed to adopt neural cell phenotypes, occur at very low frequency and are unlikely to fully account for observed neurological improvement. Alternatively, MSC-mediated neural recovery may result from the release of soluble molecules, with MSC-derived growth factors and extracellular matrix components influencing the activity of endogenous neural cells. This review discusses the potential of MSCs as candidates for use in therapies to treat neurological disorders and the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which they are understood to act.

Comparison of canine umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation times: involvement of astrogliosis, inflammation, intracellular actin cytoskeleton pathways, and neurotrophin-3

Canine mesenchymal stem cells (cMSCs) derived from umbilical cord blood represent a potentially useful source of stem cells for therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different transplantation times of cMSCs after spinal cord injury (SCI). A total of 21 dogs were subjected to SCI by balloon-induced compression of the first lumbar vertebrae for 12 h. Of the 21 dogs, 12 were divided into four groups of three according to the time of stem cell (1 × 10(6)) transplantation at the injury site: control no treatment, 12 h, 1 week, and 2 weeks. The remaining 9 animals were negative harvest (HA) time controls for each treatment group (n = 3). Olby and Tarlov scores were used to evaluate functional recovery of the hindlimbs. Markers for neuronal regeneration (Tuj-1, nestin, MAP2, and NF-M), astrogliosis (GALC, GFAP, and pSTAT3), signal molecules for actin cytoskeleton (RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1), inflammation (COX-2), and neurotrophins (NT-3) were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Scores of the 1-week transplantation group showed significant improvement compared to controls. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed less fibrosis at the injury site in the 1-week transplantation group compared to other groups and immunohistochemistry showed increased expression of neuronal markers. Furthermore, in both 1-week and 2-week transplantation groups, Tuj-1, nestin, MAP2, NF-M, NT-3, and GFAP increased, but pSTAT3, GALC, and COX2 decreased. RhoA decreased and Rac1 and Cdc42 increased in the 1-week transplantation group. In conclusion, transplantation of cMSCs 1 week after SCI was more effective in improving clinical signs and neuronal regeneration and reducing fibrosis formation compared to the other transplantation times evaluated. Subsequently, these data may contribute to the optimization of timing for MSC transplantation used as a therapeutic modality.

Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: A Possible Way how Physical Exercise Counteracts Stress

It was considered that neurogenesis only occurred during the embryonic and developmental stage. This view has greatly changed since the discovery of adult neurogenesis in two brain regions: the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. Recently, it is suggested that altered hippocampal neurogenesis is related to pathophysiology of mood disorders and mechanism of antidepressant treatments. Accumulating knowledge about the effects of physical exercise on brain function suggests a special role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in cognitive and mental health, even though the functional significance of adult neurogenesis is still debated. The beneficial effects of running correlating with increased adult neurogenesis may provide a hint that newborn neurons may be involved, at least in part, in the counteractive mechanism of physical exercise on stress-related disorders, like depression. The present review provides an overview of recent findings to emphasize the possible involvement of hippocampal neurogenesis in mediating the beneficial effects of physical exercise on counteracting stress.

Clinical potential of intravenous neural stem cell delivery for treatment of neuroinflammatory disease in mice?

While neural stem cells (NSCs) are widely expected to become a therapeutic agent for treatment of severe injuries to the central nervous system (CNS), currently there are only few detailed preclinical studies linking cell fate with experimental outcome. In this study, we aimed to validate whether IV administration of allogeneic NSC can improve experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a well-established animal model for human multiple sclerosis (MS). For this, we cultured adherently growing luciferase-expressing NSCs (NSC-Luc), which displayed a uniform morphology and expression profile of membrane and intracellular markers, and which displayed an in vitro differentiation potential into neurons and astrocytes. Following labeling with green fluorescent micron-sized iron oxide particles (f-MPIO-labeled NSC-Luc) or lentiviral transduction with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter gene (NSC-Luc/eGFP), cell implantation experiments demonstrated the intrinsic survival capacity of adherently cultured NSC in the CNS of syngeneic mice, as analyzed by real-time bioluminescence imaging (BLI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and histological analysis. Next, EAE was induced in C57BL/6 mice followed by IV administration of NSC-Luc/eGFP at day 7 postinduction with or without daily immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporine A, CsA). During a follow-up period of 20 days, the observed clinical benefit could be attributed solely to CsA treatment. In addition, histological analysis demonstrated the absence of NSC-Luc/eGFP at sites of neuroinflammation. In order to investigate the absence of therapeutic potential, BLI biodistribution analysis of IV-administered NSC-Luc/eGFP revealed cell retention in lung capillaries as soon as 1-min postinjection, resulting in massive inflammation and apoptosis in lung tissue. In summary, we conclude that IV administration of NSCs currently has limited or no therapeutic potential for neuroinflammatory disease in mice, and presumably also for human MS. However, given the fact that grafted NSCs have an intrinsic survival capacity in the CNS, their therapeutic exploitation should be further investigated, and-in contrast to several other reports-will most likely be highly complex.

Reproduction: a new venue for studying function of adult neurogenesis?

Adult neurogenesis has been a focus within the past few years because it is a newly recognized form of neuroplasticity that may play significant roles in behaviors and recovery process after disease. Mammalian adult neurogenesis could be found in two brain regions: hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ). While it is well established that hippocampal neurogenesis participates in memory formation and anxiety, the physiological function of SVZ neurogenesis is still under intense investigation. Recent studies disclose that SVZ neurogenesis is under regulation of reproductive cues like pheromones. Reciprocally, the newborn neurons may exert their effect on reproductive and maternal behaviors. This review discusses recent understanding of the interrelationship between neurogenesis and reproduction. The studies highlighted in this review illustrate the potential importance of neurogenesis in reproductive function and will provide new insights for the significance of adult neurogenesis.