title: Human neural stem cells express extra-neural markers.
abstract: Neural stem cells can be derived from the adult/embryonic nervous system as well as from more primitive embryonic stem cells but, because of the lack of specific markers, only their differentiated progeny can be characterized. We here report the presence of several endothelial and hematopoietic receptors (at protein and mRNA level) on the surface of embryonic human neural stem cells, which are partially maintained during differentiation. This suggests that neural stem cells have a greater potential than previously thought, which involves the ability to respond to different and so far unconsidered environmental signals and may be responsible for the recently discovered process of stem cell-fate conversion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, National Neurological Institute 'C. Besta', Via Celoria 11, Milan 20133, Italy. parati@instuto-besta.it
authors.forename: Eugenio A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Parati
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bez
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ponti
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: de Grazia
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corsini
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cova
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.forename: Stefano F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Pagano
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor