title: Chemokines direct neural progenitor cell migration following striatal cell loss.
abstract: In this study we demonstrate the chemokines MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and GRO-alpha play a role in directing adult subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived progenitor cell migration following striatal cell death. MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and GRO-alpha were significantly upregulated in the striatum 2-3 days following QA-induced lesioning, correlating with maximum SVZ-derived progenitor cell recruitment into the lesioned striatum. We established that SVZ-derived progenitor cells express receptors for each chemokine, and demonstrated MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and GRO-alpha to be potent chemoattractants for SVZ-derived progenitor cells in vitro. Immunofluorescence revealed MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and GRO-alpha are predominantly expressed in the striatum by NG2-positive cells that appear to infiltrate from the bloodstream 6 h following QA lesioning. These results indicate that upregulation of MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and GRO-alpha following striatal cell death leads to chemoattraction of SVZ-derived progenitor cells into the damaged striatum and raises a potential role for blood-derived cells in directing the recruitment of SVZ-derived progenitors following brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Renee J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Ailsa L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: Bronwen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Connor