Neuronal and astrocytic cells, obtained after differentiation of human neural GFAP-positive progenitors, present heterogeneous expression of PrPc.
PrP(c) is a cellular isoform of the prion protein with an unknown normal function. One of the putative physiological roles of this protein is its involvement in cell differentiation. Recently, in vitro and in vivo studies showed that GFAP-positive cells have characteristics of stem/progenitor cells that generate neurons and glia. We used an in vitro model of human neurogenesis from GFAP-positive progenitor cells to study the expression of PrP(c) during neural differentiation. Semi-quantitative multiplex-PCR assay and Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase of PRNP expression level in differentiated cells compared to undifferentiated cell population. As determined by immunocytochemistry followed by a quantitative image analysis, the PrP(c) level increased significantly in neuronal cells and did not increase significantly in glial cells. Of note, glial and neuronal cells showed a very large heterogeneity of PrP(c) expression. Our results provide the basis for studying the role of PrP(c) in cell differentiation and neurogenesis from human GFAP-positive progenitor cells.
Witusik
Monika
M
Department of Molecular Pathology and Neuropathology, Chair of Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, 8/10 Czechoslowacka str., Lodz, Poland.
Gresner
Sylwia M
SM
Hulas-Bigoszewska
Krystyna
K
Krynska
Barbara
B
Azizi
S Ausim
SA
Liberski
Pawel P
PP
Brown
Paul
P
Rieske
Piotr
P
D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D053686:Fetal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions / Q000378:metabolism
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C512656:PRNP protein, human; D018621:PrPC Proteins; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions