1. |
- Hoeber, Jan, et al.
(author)
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Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Progenitors Assist Functional Sensory Axon Regeneration after Dorsal Root Avulsion Injury
- 2015
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dorsal root avulsion results in permanent impairment of sensory functions due to disconnection between the peripheral and central nervous system. Improved strategies are therefore needed to reconnect injured sensory neurons with their spinal cord targets in order to achieve functional repair after brachial and lumbosacral plexus avulsion injuries. Here, we show that sensory functions can be restored in the adult mouse if avulsed sensory fibers are bridged with the spinal cord by human neural progenitor (hNP) transplants. Responses to peripheral mechanical sensory stimulation were significantly improved in transplanted animals. Transganglionic tracing showed host sensory axons only in the spinal cord dorsal horn of treated animals. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that sensory fibers had grown through the bridge and showed robust survival and differentiation of the transplants. Section of the repaired dorsal roots distal to the transplant completely abolished the behavioral improvement. This demonstrates that hNP transplants promote recovery of sensorimotor functions after dorsal root avulsion, and that these effects are mediated by spinal ingrowth of host sensory axons. These results provide a rationale for the development of novel stem cell-based strategies for functionally useful bridging of the peripheral and central nervous system.
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2. |
- Kosykh, Anastasiia, et al.
(author)
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Neural crest stem cells from hair follicles and boundary cap have different effects on pancreatic islets in vitro
- 2015
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In: International Journal of Neuroscience. - London : Informa Healthcare. - 0020-7454 .- 1563-5279 .- 1543-5245. ; 125:7, s. 547-554
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose:Neural crest stem cells derived from the boundary cap (bNCSCs), markedly promote survival, proliferation and function of insulin producing β-cells in vitro and in vivo after coculture/transplantation with pancreatic islets [ 1, 2 ]. Recently, we have shown that beneficial effects on β-cells require cadherin contacts between bNCSCs and β-cells [ 3, 4 ]. Here we investigated whether hair follicle (HF) NCSCs, a potential source for human allogeneic transplantation, exert similar positive effects on β-cells.Materials and Methods:We established cocultures of HF-NCSCs or bNCSCs from mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein together with pancreatic islets from DxRed expressing mice or NMRI mice and compared their migration towards islet cells and effect on proliferation of β-cells as well as intracellular relations between NCSCs and islets using qRT-PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry.Results:Whereas both types of NCSCs migrated extensively in the presence of islets, only bNCSCs demonstrated directed migration toward islets, induced β-cell proliferation and increased the presence of cadherin at the junctions between bNCSCs and β-cells. Even in direct contact between β-cells and HF-NCSCs, no cadherin expression was detected.Conclusions:These observations indicate that HF-NCSCs do not confer the same positive effect on β-cells as demonstrated for bNCSCs. Furthermore, these data suggest that induction of cadherin expression by HF-NCSCs may be useful for their ability to support β-cells in coculture and after transplantation.
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3. |
- Lau Börjesson, Joey, et al.
(author)
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Surface Coating of Pancreatic Islets With Neural Crest Stem Cells Improves Engraftment and Function After Intraportal Transplantation
- 2015
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In: Cell Transplantation. - 0963-6897 .- 1555-3892. ; 24:11, s. 2263-2272
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present study aimed to develop techniques for surface coating of islets with neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) in order to enable cotransplantation to the clinically used liver site and then investigate engraftment and function intraportally of such bioengineered islets. Mouse islets were coated during incubation with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing mouse NCSCs and transplanted into the portal vein to cure diabetic mice. An intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed at 1 month posttransplantation. Islet grafts were retrieved and evaluated for vascular density, nerves, and glial cells. NCSCs expressed a vast number of key angiogenic and neurotrophic factors. Mice transplanted with NCSC-bioengineered islets responded better to the glucose load than recipient mice with control islets. NCSCs remained present in the vicinity or had often migrated into the NCSC-coated islets, and an improved islet graft reinnervation and revascularization was observed. Transplanted NCSCs differentiated into both glial and neural cells in the islet grafts. We conclude that bioengineering of islets with NCSCs for intraportal transplantation provides a possibility to improve islet engraftment and function. Pending successful establishment of protocols for expansion of NCSCs from, for example, human skin or bone marrow, this strategy may be applied to clinical islet transplantation.
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4. |
- Shteinfer-Kuzmine, Anna, et al.
(author)
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A VDAC1-Derived N-Terminal Peptide Inhibits Mutant SOD1-VDAC1 Interactions and Toxicity in the SOD1 Model of ALS
- 2019
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In: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 1662-5102. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mutations in superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are the second most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. SOD1 neurotoxicity has been attributed to aberrant accumulation of misfolded SOD1, which in its soluble form binds to intracellular organelles, such as mitochondria and ER, disrupting their functions. Here, we demonstrate that mutant SOD1 binds specifically to the N-terminal domain of the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC1), an outer mitochondrial membrane protein controlling cell energy, metabolic and survival pathways. Mutant SOD1(G93A) and SOD1(G85R), but not wild type SOD1, directly interact with VDAC1 and reduce its channel conductance. No such interaction with N-terminal-truncated VDAC1 occurs. Moreover, a VDAC1-derived N-terminal peptide inhibited mutant SOD1-induced toxicity. Incubation of motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells expressing mutant SOD1 or mouse embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons with different VDAC1 N-terminal peptides resulted in enhanced cell survival. Taken together, our results establish a direct link between mutant SOD1 toxicity and the VDAC1 N-terminal domain and suggest that VDAC1 N-terminal peptides targeting mutant SOD1 provide potential new therapeutic strategies for ALS.
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5. |
- Trolle, Carl, 1985-, et al.
(author)
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Boundary cap neural crest stem cell transplants contribute Mts1/S100A4-expressing cells in the glial scar
- 2017
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In: Regenerative Medicine. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1746-0751 .- 1746-076X. ; 12:4, s. 339-351
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: During development, boundary cap neural crest stem cells (bNCSCs) assist sensory axon growth into the spinal cord. Here we repositioned them to test if they assist regeneration of sensory axons in adult mice after dorsal root avulsion injury.MATERIALS & METHODS: Avulsed mice received bNCSC or human neural progenitor (hNP) cell transplants and their contributions to glial scar formation and sensory axon regeneration were analyzed with immunohistochemistry and transganglionic tracing.RESULTS: hNPs and bNCSCs form similar gaps in the glial scar, but unlike hNPs, bNCSCs contribute Mts1/S100A4 (calcium-binding protein) expression to the scar and do not assist sensory axon regeneration.CONCLUSION: bNCSC transplants contribute nonpermissive Mts1/S100A4-expressing cells to the glial scar after dorsal root avulsion.
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