title: Short laminin peptide for improved neural stem cell growth.
abstract: Human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNSCs) are very difficult to culture and require human or animal source extracellular matrix molecules, such as laminin or collagen type IV, to support attachment and to regulate their survival and proliferation. These extracellular matrix molecules are difficult to purify from human or animal tissues, have high batch-to-batch variability, and may cause an immune response if used in clinical applications. Although several laminin- and collagen IV-derived peptides are commercially available, they do not support long-term hNSC attachment and growth. To solve this problem, we developed a novel peptide sequence with only 12 amino acids based on the Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val, or IKVAV, sequence: Ac-Cys-Cys-Arg-Arg-Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val-Trp-Leu-Cys. This short peptide sequence, similar to tissue-derived full laminin molecules, supported hNSCs to attach and proliferate to confluence for continuous passage and subculture. This short peptide also directed hNSCs to differentiate into neurons. When conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels, this short peptide benefited hNSC attachment and proliferation on the surface of hydrogels and promoted cell migration inside the hydrogels with maximum enhancement at a peptide density of 10 μM. This novel short peptide shows great promise in artificial niche development for supporting hNSC culture in vitro and in vivo and for promoting hNSC transplantation in future clinical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Clemson-Medical University of South Carolina Bioengineering Program, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA; Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Josey
authors.forename: C James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xuejun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007797:Laminin; D010455:Peptides; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
keywords: Attachment; Hydrogel; Migration; Neural stem/progenitor cells; Peptide