Ex vivo gene delivery of platelet-derived growth factor increases 0-2A progenitors in adult rat spinal cord.
The O-2A progenitor cell, which serves as a stem cell for the myelinating oligodendrocyte, has been implicated as a major target for radiation-induced spinal cord injury. In an attempt to increase the number of O-2A cells in the spinal cord, we applied an ex vivo gene therapy procedure for delivering platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). Recombinant fibroblasts expressing PDGF A chain were injected into the cisterna magna of adult rats, which resulted in cell seeding of the subarachnoid space of the cervical spinal cord. The number of O-2A progenitors in the cervical spinal cord was then assessed with an in vitro clonogenic assay. O-2A cells were found to be increased 8 days after recombinant cell injection, and they remained elevated up to at least 14 days. Analysis of O-2A colonies indicated that the implantation of PDGF-expressing cells increased the number of O-2A progenitors without affecting their in vitro proliferation potential or differentiation capacity. These data suggest that implantation of PDGF-expressing cells in the subarachnoid space of the cervical spinal cord may influence a stem cell population critical to the repair of demyelinated lesions.
Ijichi
A
A
Department of Experimental Radiotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
Noel
F
F
Sakuma
S
S
Weil
M M
MM
Tofilon
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor