title: Adult neural precursors isolated from post mortem brain yield mostly neurons: an erythropoietin-dependent process.
abstract: This study was aimed at the isolation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) capable of resisting to a prolonged ischemic insult as this may occur at the site of traumatic and ischemic CNS injuries. Adult mice were anesthetized and then killed by cervical dislocation. The cadavers were maintained at room temperature or at 4°C for different time periods. Post mortem neural precursors (PM-NPCs) were isolated, grown in vitro and their differentiation capability was investigated by evaluating the expression of different neuronal markers. PM-NPCs differentiate mostly in neurons, show activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and MAPK, and express both erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor (EPO-R). The exposure of PM-NPCs to neutralizing antibodies to EPO or EPO-R dramatically reduced the extent of neuronal differentiation to about 11% of total PM-NPCs. The functionality of mTOR and MAPK is also required for the expression of the neuronal phenotype by PM-NPCs. These results suggest that PM-NPCs can be isolated from animal cadaver even several hours after death and their self-renewable capability is comparable to normal neural precursors. Differently, their ability to achieve a neural phenotype is superior to that of NPCs, and this is mediated by the activation of hypoxia-induced factor 1 and EPO signaling. PM-NPCs may represent good candidates for transplantation studies in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Milan, Polo H San Paolo, via A di Rudinì 8, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marfia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Madaschi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menarini
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bottai
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Formenti
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellardita
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
authors.forename: Stephana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carelli
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorio
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin; D004921:Erythropoietin