A common neural progenitor for the CNS and PNS.
Cultured spinal cord neuroepithelial (NEP) cells can differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes and are morphologically and antigenically distinct from neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) that generate the PNS. NEP cells, however, can generate p75/nestin-immunoreactive cells that are morphologically and antigenically similar to previously characterized NCSCs. NEP-derived p75-immunoreactive cells differentiate into peripheral neurons, smooth muscle, and Schwann cells in mass and clonal culture. Clonal analysis of NEP cells demonstrates that a common NEP progenitor cell generated both CNS and PNS phenotypes. Differentiation into NCSCs was promoted by BMP-2/4 and differentiation did not require cells to divide, indicating that BMP played an instructive role in the differentiation process. Thus, individual NEP cells are multipotent and can differentiate into most major types of cell in the CNS and PNS and that PNS differentiation involves a transition from a NEP stem to another more limited, p75-immunoreactive, neural crest stem cell.
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Medical School, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132, USA.
T
T
Mujtaba
M
M
Mayer-Proschel
M S
MS
Rao
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008954:Models, Biological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D013234:Stem Cells; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; C525720:Bmp2 protein, rat; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta