Targeting of marrow-derived astrocytes to the ischemic brain.
Bone marrow progenitor cells have been shown to contribute to a small proportion of cells in nonhematopoietic tissues including the brain. In the acute unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion model in spontaneously hypertensive rats following male-to-female bone marrow transplantation, we present data suggesting that 55% more marrow-derived cells, in general, and 161% more GFAP-positive astrocytes, in particular, migrate preferentially to the ischemic cortex than to the contralateral non-ischemic hemisphere. In addition to their biological significance, our findings could have therapeutic implications. Marrow-derived progenitor cells could potentially be used as vehicles for ex vivo gene transfer to the brain.
Eglitis
M A
MA
Genetic Pharmacology Unit, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Dawson
D
D
Park
K W
KW
Mouradian
M M
MM
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D014998:Y Chromosome
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein