Nestin- and doublecortin-positive cells reside in adult spinal cord meninges and participate in injury-induced parenchymal reaction.
Adult spinal cord has little regenerative potential, thus limiting patient recovery following injury. In this study, we describe a new population of cells resident in the adult rat spinal cord meninges that express the neural stem/precursor markers nestin and doublecortin. Furthermore, from dissociated meningeal tissue a neural stem cell population was cultured in vitro and subsequently shown to differentiate into functional neurons or mature oligodendrocytes. Proliferation rate and number of nestin- and doublecortin-positive cells increased in vivo in meninges following spinal cord injury. By using a lentivirus-labeling approach, we show that meningeal cells, including nestin- and doublecortin-positive cells, migrate in the spinal cord parenchyma and contribute to the glial scar formation. Our data emphasize the multiple roles of meninges in the reaction of the parenchyma to trauma and indicate for the first time that spinal cord meninges are potential niches harboring stem/precursor cells that can be activated by injury. Meninges may be considered as a new source of adult stem/precursor cells to be further tested for use in regenerative medicine applied to neurological disorders, including repair from spinal cord injury.
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. ilaria.decimo@univr.it
Ilaria
I
Decimo
Francesco
F
Bifari
Francisco Javier
FJ
Rodriguez
Giorgio
G
Malpeli
Sissi
S
Dolci
Valentina
V
Lavarini
Silvia
S
Pretto
Sandra
S
Vasquez
Marina
M
Sciancalepore
Alberto
A
Montalbano
Valeria
V
Berton
Mauro
M
Krampera
Guido
G
Fumagalli
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007796:Laminectomy; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008578:Meninges / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche
C000714848:Dcx protein, rat; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D009479:Neuropeptides