title: Immature neuronal phenotype derived from mouse skin precursor cells differentiated in vitro.
abstract: Recent findings indicate that skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs) of mouse dermis can differentiate in cells with neuronal-like morphology. However, direct evidence supporting the establishment of functional phenotype is missing. In the present study, SKP cells were obtained using published in vitro techniques and studied at 14- to 21-day differentiation, when neuronal-like morphology was observed. The experiment was repeated 39 times. Co-cultures with cortical astrocytes were also used to enhance the process of neural differentiation. Expression of GAP43 and light-chain MAP-2(c) but not markers of dendritic and synaptic terminal differentiation such as heavy-chain MAP-2(ab) and synapsin were observed. Voltage-clamp electrophysiology recordings showed potassium currents, but neither action potentials generation nor electrotonic response to exogenous administration of nicotine or kainic acid. These observations suggest that mouse SKPs do not differentiate into mature functional neurons, at least using the published methodologies for in vitro differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Division of Pharmacology, Brescia University Medical School, Viale Europa 11, 25100 Brescia, Italy. collo@med.unibs.it
authors.forename: Ginetta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goffi
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merlo Pich
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baldelli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benfenati
authors.forename: PierFranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spano
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010641:Phenotype; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C079240:Mtap2 protein, mouse; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; C402565:glutamate decarboxylase 1; C027917:tetramethylammonium