title: Differentiation of human epidermal neural crest stem cells (hEPI-NCSC) into virtually homogenous populations of dopaminergic neurons.
abstract: Here we provide a protocol for the directed differentiation of hEPI-NCSC into midbrain dopaminergic neurons, which degenerate in Parkinson's disease. hEPI-NCSC are neural crest-derived multipotent stem cells that persist into adulthood in the bulge of hair follicles. The experimental design is distinctly different from conventional protocols for embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. It includes pre-differentiation of the multipotent hEPI-NCSC into neural stem cell-like cells, followed by ventralizing, patterning, continued exposure to the TGFβ receptor inhibitor, SB431542, and at later stages of differentiation the presence of the WNT inhibitor, IWP-4. All cells expressed A9 midbrain dopaminergic neuron progenitor markers with gene expression levels comparable to those in normal human substantia nigra. The current study shows for the first time that virtually homogeneous populations of dopaminergic neurons can be derived ex vivo from somatic stem cells without the need for purification, with useful timeliness and high efficacy. This novel development is an important first step towards the establishment of fully functional dopaminergic neurons from an ontologically relevant stem cell type, hEPI-NCSC.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
authors.forename: Alla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narytnyk
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verdon
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loughney
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Clewes
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sieber-Blum
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D006801:Humans; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology