Neural Progenitor Cells Generate Motoneuron-Like Cells to Form Functional Connections with Target Muscles after Transplantation into the Musculocutaneous Nerve

Cell Transplantation

Article

Dajiang Qin¹  Yanhua Sang¹  Huanxing Su¹  Xiaoying Yang¹  Qiuju Yuan¹  Wai-Man Wong¹  Kwok-Fai So²  Wutian Wu³  Wenming Zhang⁴  Chaoyang Wu⁴ 

[1]Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

[2]Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

[3]State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

[4]Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health (BFAH), Jinan University and The University of Hong Kong, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

[5]Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

[6]State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

[7]Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health (BFAH), Jinan University and The University of Hong Kong, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

[8]Research Center of Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

[9]Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China

关键词: Neural progenitor cells (NPCs);    Motoneurons;    Nerve injury;    Spinal cord;    Transplantation;   

DOI  :  10.3727/096368912X654975

 received in 2011-07-15, accepted in 2012-02-08,  发布年份 2012

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are suggested to be a valuable source of cell transplant in treatment of various neurological diseases because of their distinct attributes. They can be expanded and induced to differentiate in vitro. However, it remains uncertain whether in vitro expanded NPCs have the capacity to give rise to functional motoneurons after transplantation in vivo. Here, we showed that in vitro expanded NPCs, when transplanted into the musculocutaneous nerve, generated motoneuron-like cells that exhibited typical morphology with large cell bodies, expressed specific molecules, and extended axons to form functional connections with the target muscle. In contrast, transplanted NPCs failed to yield motoneurons in the injured ventral horn of the spinal cord. The results of the study demonstrate that NPCs have the potential to generate functional motoneurons in an appropriate environment. The distinct differentiating fate of NPCs in the musculocutaneous nerve and the injured ventral horn suggests the importance and necessity of modifying the host microenvironment in use of NPCs for cell replacement therapies for motoneuron diseases.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2012 Cognizant Comm. Corp.

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