Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursor transplants attenuate apomorphine-induced rotational behavior in rats with unilateral quinolinic acid lesions.
To test the efficacy of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived neural precursors in an experimental model of Huntington's disease (HD), we differentiated hESC into nestin-positive neural precursors by co-culturing with PA6 stromal cells, and subsequently transplanted them into the striatum of quinolinic acid (QA)-induced HD model. The transplanted animals exhibited a behavioral recovery in the apomorphine-induced rotation test for 3 weeks after transplantation. The transplanted hESC-derived neural precursors were found in both cortex and striatum. They also exhibited some evidence of neuronal differentiation. At the time of examination, no tumor was detected. These results strongly suggest that hESC-derived neural precursors can lead to a behavioral recovery, as well as neuronal differentiation, in the pre-clinical model of HD.
CHA Stem Cell Institute, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine, and Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea.
Jihwan
J
Song
Soon-Tae
ST
Lee
Wonsuk
W
Kang
Jung-Eun
JE
Park
Kon
K
Chu
Song-ee
SE
Lee
Taesun
T
Hwang
Hyungmin
H
Chung
Manho
M
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D017072:Neostriatum; D009474:Neurons / Q000637:transplantation*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017378:Quinolinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D017378:Quinolinic Acid; D001058:Apomorphine