title: Loss of RE-1 silencing factor in mesenchymal stem cell-derived dopamine progenitors induces functional maturity.
abstract: Stem cell-derived dopamine (DA) neurons hold great promise for Parkinson's disease (PD). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have great potential for clinical applications. The generation of DA cells from MSCs using sonic hedgehog (SHH) and fibroblast growth factors (FGF8 and bFGF) has been reported. However, the DA cells showed weak electrical properties, representing DA neuron progenitors. Since RE-1 Silencing Factor (REST), suppresses mature neuronal genes in neuronal progenitors, we studied its role in the maturation of MSC-derived DA cells. REST expression did not change during the induction process, thus we knocked down REST and subjected MSCs to the same neural induction cocktail. We observed increases in the protein level of the Na(+) voltage-gated channel and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Electrophysiological analyses showed spontaneous firings and spontaneous postsynaptic currents, similar to native DA neurons. Taken together, these results show REST as the limiting gene in the generation of functional mature neurons from MSCs.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Katarzyna A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Trzaska
authors.forename: Bobby Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Jessian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.forename: Ke-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiang-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Pranela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rameshwar
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C539882:NR4A2 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2; C121019:RCOR1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015222:Sodium Channels; D014157:Transcription Factors; C433629:homeobox protein PITX3; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D004298:Dopamine