title: Isolation of mineralizing Nestin+ Nkx6.1+ vascular muscular cells from the adult human spinal cord.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The adult central nervous system (CNS) contains different populations of immature cells that could possibly be used to repair brain and spinal cord lesions. The diversity and the properties of these cells in the human adult CNS remain to be fully explored. We previously isolated Nestin+ Sox2+ neural multipotential cells from the adult human spinal cord using the neurosphere method (i.e. non adherent conditions and defined medium).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we report the isolation and long term propagation of another population of Nestin+ cells from this tissue using adherent culture conditions and serum. QPCR and immunofluorescence indicated that these cells had mesenchymal features as evidenced by the expression of Snai2 and Twist1 and lack of expression of neural markers such as Sox2, Olig2 or GFAP. Indeed, these cells expressed markers typical of smooth muscle vascular cells such as Calponin, Caldesmone and Acta2 (Smooth muscle actin). These cells could not differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes, neuronal and glial cells, however they readily mineralized when placed in osteogenic conditions. Further characterization allowed us to identify the Nkx6.1 transcription factor as a marker for these cells. Nkx6.1 was expressed in vivo by CNS vascular muscular cells located in the parenchyma and the meninges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smooth muscle cells expressing Nestin and Nkx6.1 is the main cell population derived from culturing human spinal cord cells in adherent conditions with serum. Mineralization of these cells in vitro could represent a valuable model for studying calcifications of CNS vessels which are observed in pathological situations or as part of the normal aging. In addition, long term propagation of these cells will allow the study of their interaction with other CNS cells and their implication in scar formation during spinal cord injury.
authors: CNRS UPR 1142, Institute of Human Genetics, 141, rue de la Cardonille, 34396 Montpellier Cedex 05, France.
authors: Daria
authors: D
authors: Mamaeva
authors: Chantal
authors: C
authors: Ripoll
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Bony
authors: Marisa
authors: M
authors: Teigell
authors: Florence E
authors: FE
authors: Perrin
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Rothhut
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Bieche
authors: Rosette
authors: R
authors: Lidereau
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Privat
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Rigau
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Guillon
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Vachiery-Lahaye
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Noel
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Bauchet
authors: Jean-Philippe
authors: JP
authors: Hugnot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin; D061251:Primary Cell Culture / Q000379:methods*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; C105201:NKX6-1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin