Bone marrow as a source of endothelial cells and NeuN-expressing cells After stroke.
OBJECTIVE
After an ischemic event, bone marrow-derived cells may be involved in reparative processes. There is increasing evidence that bone marrow-derived stem cells may be a source of endothelial cells and organ-specific cells. Our objectives were to determine whether bone marrow-derived cells were a source of endothelial cells and neurons after cerebral ischemia.


METHODS
We transplanted bone marrow from male C57 BL/6-TgN (ACTbEGFP)1Osb mice, which express green fluorescent protein (GFP), into female C57 BL/6J mice. The recipient mice then underwent suture occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and bone marrow- derived cells were tracked by GFP epifluorescence and Y chromosome probe.


RESULTS
Within 3 days and at 7 and 14 days after MCA occlusion, bone marrow-derived cells incorporated into the vasculature in the ischemic zone and expressed an endothelial cell phenotype. Few bone marrow-derived cells incorporated into the vasculature 24 hours after MCA occlusion. Some bone marrow-derived cells also expressed the neuronal marker NeuN at 7 and 14 days after ischemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Postnatal vasculogenesis occurs in the brain in the setting of a cerebral infarction. Bone marrow-derived cells are a source of endothelial cells and NeuN-expressing cells after cerebral infarction. This plasticity may be exploited in the future to enhance recovery after stroke.
Hess
David C
DC
Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Ga 30912, USA. dhess@neuro.mcg.edu
Hill
William D
WD
Martin-Studdard
Angeline
A
Carroll
James
J
Brailer
Joanna
J
Carothers
Jo
J
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011828:Radiation Chimera; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins