Abstract
Pluripotent or multipotent stem cells isolated from human embryos or adult central nervous system (CNS) may provide new neurons to ameliorate neural disorders. A major obstacle, however, is that the majority of such cells do not differentiate into neurons when grafted into non-neurogenic areas of the adult CNS. Here we report a new in vitro priming procedure that generates a nearly pure population of neurons from fetal human neural stem cells (hNSCs) transplanted into adult rat CNS. Furthermore, the grafted cells differentiated by acquiring a cholinergic phenotype in a region-specific manner. This technology may advance stem cell-based therapy to replace lost neurons in neural injury or neurodegenerative disorders.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / metabolism
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Animals
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Brain Tissue Transplantation / methods*
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Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
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Cells, Cultured
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Choline O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
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Fetus
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Graft Survival / drug effects
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Graft Survival / physiology*
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Heparin / pharmacology
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Humans
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Immunohistochemistry
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Laminin / pharmacology
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Male
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Nerve Growth Factors / pharmacology
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / therapy*
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Neurons / cytology*
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism
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Phenotype
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Rats
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Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
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Stem Cells / cytology*
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Stem Cells / drug effects
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Stem Cells / metabolism
Substances
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Laminin
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Heparin
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Choline O-Acetyltransferase
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Acetylcholine