Developmentally regulated collagen/integrin interactions confer adhesive properties to early postnatal neural stem cells.
BACKGROUND
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the extracellular matrix acts as an important regulator of the neural stem niche. Previously we found that neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) derived from the early postnatal subventricular zone of mice adhere to a collagen/hyaluronan hydrogel, whereas NSPCs from the adult and embryonic brain do not.


METHODS
To examine the specific adhesive properties of young stem cells in more detail, NSPCs isolated from embryonic, postnatal day 6 (P6), and adult mouse brains were cultured on collagen I.


RESULTS
Early postnatal NSPCs formed paxillin-positive focal adhesions on collagen I, and these adhesions could be prevented by an antibody that blocked integrin β1. Furthermore, we found the corresponding integrin alpha subunits α2 and α11 levels to be highest at the postnatal stage. Gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes showed higher expression of transcripts involved in vasculature development and morphogenesis in P6 stem cells, compared to adult.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability to interact with the extracellular matrix differs between postnatal and adult NSPCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations that the specific adhesive properties of early postnatal NSPCs, which are lost in the adult brain, can be ascribed to the integrin subunits expressed by the former furthering our understanding of the developing neurogenic niche. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Matrix-mediated cell behaviour and properties.
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75185 Uppsala Sweden.
Tobias
T
Bergström
Merck Sharp & Dohme (Sweden) AB, Rotebergsvägen 3, Box 7125, SE-192 07 Sollentuna, Sweden.
Karin
K
Holmqvist
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75185 Uppsala Sweden.
Tatsiana
T
Tararuk
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
Staffan
S
Johansson
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75185 Uppsala Sweden.
Karin
K
Forsberg-Nilsson
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D063990:Gene Ontology; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
D024042:Collagen Type I; D005353:Fibronectins; D016023:Integrins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Cell adhesion; Integrin alpha; Integrin beta1; Neurovascular niche