title: Modulation of dopaminergic neuronal differentiation from sympathoadrenal progenitors.
abstract: The capacity of sympathoadrenal progenitors from adrenal medulla to generate dopaminergic neurons in vitro makes them an attractive source for replacement therapies of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Dopaminergic cells constitute one percent of the adult adrenal medulla only. Thus, isolation of sympathoadrenal progenitors and enhancement of their capacity to derive dopaminergic neurons is a strategy to be considered. Here, we summarize data on the characterization and isolation of sympathoadrenal progenitors from adult adrenal medulla capable to give rise to functional dopaminergic neurons, in vitro. Pretransplantation treatment of these cells with pharmacological means is an important prerequisite to improve dopaminergic differentiation and efficient engraftment of sympathoadrenal progenitors. Treatment of these cells with retinoic and ascorbic acids significantly increased dopamine secretion from derived neurons. Furthermore, inhibition of Notch signaling activated molecular mechanisms involved in the determination of dopaminergic neuronal subtype. Taken together, somatic adrenomedullary sympathoadrenal progenitor cells are a valid cell source for replacement therapies with a high potential for dopaminergic neuronal differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology, Medical Clinic III, University Clinic Dresden, Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vukicevic
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rubin de Celis
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diaz-Valencia
authors.forename: Stefan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bornstein
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehrhart-Bornstein
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology