title: Characterization of epidermal neural crest stem cell (EPI-NCSC) grafts in the lesioned spinal cord.
abstract: We have characterized in the contusion-lesioned murine spinal cord the behavior of acutely implanted epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSC, formerly eNCSC). EPI-NCSC, a novel type of multipotent adult stem cell, are remnants of the embryonic neural crest. They reside in the bulge of hair follicles and have the ability to differentiate into all major neural crest derivatives (Sieber-Blum, M., Grim, M., Hu, Y.F., Szeder, V., 2004. Pluripotent neural crest stem cells in the adult hair follicle. Dev. Dyn. 231, 258-269). Grafted EPI-NCSC survived, integrated, and intermingled with host neurites in the lesioned spinal cord. EPI-NCSC were non-migratory. They did not proliferate and did not form tumors. Significant subsets expressed neuron-specific beta-III tubulin, the GABAergic marker glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67), the oligodendrocyte marker, RIP, or myelin basic protein (MBP). Close physical association of non-neuronal EPI-NCSC with host neurites was observed. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunofluorescence was not detected. Collectively, our data indicate that intraspinal EPI-NCSC demonstrate several desirable characteristics that may include local neural replacement and re-myelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. sieberbl@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sieber-Blum
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grim
authors.forename: Yao Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Regula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins