Cerebellar heterokaryon formation increases with age and after irradiation.
Hematopoietic cells have been demonstrated to survive in many nonhematopoietic tissues after transplantation. Apparent "bone marrow-derived" cerebellar Purkinje cells in fact result from fusion events and it has been suggested that fusion may be a natural physiological phenomenon to rescue dysfunctioning cells. Here, we show that fusion of transplanted bone marrow cells with resident Purkinje cells is age-dependent and is strongly enhanced when Purkinje cells are damaged by high-dose irradiation. In addition, Purkinje heterokaryons occur in increased frequencies in the cerebellum of normal, unperturbed, aged mice compared to young animals. Our data suggest that age- and/or irradiation-induced dysfunctioning of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum is required for cell fusion.
Wiersema
Anita
A
Department of Cell Biology, Section Stem Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Dijk
Freark
F
Dontje
Bert
B
van der Want
Johannes J
JJ
de Haan
Gerald
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects