A novel classification of quiescent and transit amplifying adult neural stem cells by surface and metabolic markers permits a defined simultaneous isolation.
Adult neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) are usually defined retrospectively by their ability to proliferate in vivo (bromodeoxyuridine uptake) or to form neurospheres and to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in vitro. Additional strategies to identify and to isolate NSPCs are of great importance for the investigation of cell differentiation and fate specification. Using the cell surface molecules Prominin-1 and Lewis X and a metabolic marker, the aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, we isolated and characterized five main populations of NSPCs in the neurogenic subventricular zone (SVZ) and the non-neurogenic spinal cord (SC). We used clonal analysis to assess neurosphere formation and multipotency, BrdU retention to investigate in vivo proliferation activity and quantified the expression of NSPC associated genes. Surprisingly, we found many similarities in NSPC subpopulations derived from the SVZ and SC suggesting that subtypes with similar intrinsic potential exist in both regions. The marker defined classification of NSPCs will help to distinguish subpopulations of NSPCs and allows their prospective isolation using fluorescence activated cell sorting.
Brain Research Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland. obermair@hifo.uzh.ch
Franz-Josef
FJ
Obermair
Roberto
R
Fiorelli
Aileen
A
Schroeter
Sarah
S
Beyeler
Claudia
C
Blatti
Bjoern
B
Zoerner
Michaela
M
Thallmair
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D010455:Peptides; C000606024:Prom1 protein, mouse; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase