title: Cytokine-induced conversion of mesencephalic-derived progenitor cells into dopamine neurons.
abstract: We have previously shown that a combination of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can convert rat fetal (E14.5) mesencephalic progenitor cells into tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in vitro. The experiments described here characterize the mesencephalic progenitor cells and their cytokine-induced conversion into dopamine (DA) neurons. For all experiments, we used bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-ir cultures of (E14.5) mesencephalic progenitor cells that had been expanded at least 21 days. We first demonstrated that IL-1 induced DA neuron conversion in mesencephalic progenitors, but not in striatal progenitors (P < 0.001). Thus, these cells should be classified as lineage-restricted progenitors, and not omnipotent stem cells. To further characterize cell populations in these cultures, we used monoclonal antibodies against Hu (an early marker for neurons), growth-associated protein (GAP)-43 (a marker for neuronal process extension), TH (a marker for DA neurons), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, a marker for astrocytes). We assessed (E14.5) mesencephalic progenitor cell cultures (plated at 125,000 cells/cm2) incubated in the cytokine mixture (described above) or in complete media (CM, negative control). Following 7 days incubation, GFAP-positive cells formed a nearly confluent carpet in both types of cultures. However, numbers of Hu-ir and GAP-43-ir cells in the cytokine-incubated cultures far exceeded those in CM-incubated controls (P = 0.0003, P = 0.0001, respectively), while numbers of TH-ir cells were 58-fold greater in the cytokine-incubated cultures versus CM-incubated controls. The TH phenotype persisted for 7 days following withdrawal of the differentiation media. Numerous double-labeled cells that were BrdU-ir and also TH-ir, or Hu-ir and also TH-ir, were observed in the cytokine-incubated cultures. These data suggest that cytokines "drive" the conversion of progenitor cells into DA neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Neurological Sciences, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Z D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Carvey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000032:analysis; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016207:Cytokines; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine