title: Caspase inhibition increases survival of neural stem cells in the gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation is a promising tool for the restoration of the enteric nervous system in a variety of motility disorders. Post-transplant survival represents a critical limiting factor for successful repopulation. The aim of this study was to determine the role of both immunological as well as non-immune-mediated mechanisms on post-transplant survival of NSC in the gut. Mouse CNS-derived NSC (CNS-NSC) were transplanted into the pylorus of recipient mice with and without the addition of a caspase-1 inhibitor (Ac-YVAD-cmk) in the injection media. In a separate experiment, CNS-NSC were transplanted in the pylorus of mice that were immunosuppressed by administration of cyclosporin A (CsA). Apoptosis and proliferation of the implanted cells was assessed 1 and 7 days post-transplantation. Survival was assessed 1 week post-transplantation. The degree of immunoresponse was also measured. The addition of a caspase-1 inhibitor significantly reduced apoptosis, increased proliferation and enhanced survival of CNS-NSC. CsA-treatment did not result in improved survival. Our results indicate that caspase-1 inhibition, but not immunosuppression, improves survival of CNS-NSC in the gut. Pre-treatment with a caspase-1 inhibitor may be a practical method to enhance the ability of transplanted CNS-NSC to survive in their new environment.
authors.affiliation: Enteric Neuromuscular Disorders and Pain Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0764, USA.
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Micci
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pattillo
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kahrig
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pasricha
mesh_terms: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000187:drug effects; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C098738:N-acetyl-tyrosyl-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl chloromethyl ketone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D020170:Caspase 1