title: A Gene and Neural Stem Cell Therapy Platform Based on Neuronal Cell Type-Inducible Gene Overexpression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with permanent neurological damage, and treatment thereof with a single modality often does not provide sufficient therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, a strategy that combines two or more techniques might show better therapeutic effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we designed a combined treatment strategy based on neural stem cells (NSCs) introduced via a neuronal cell type-inducible transgene expression system (NSE::) controlled by a neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter to maximize therapeutic efficiency and neuronal differentiation. The luciferase gene was chosen to confirm whether this combined system was working properly prior to using a therapeutic gene. The luciferase expression levels of NSCs introduced via the neuronal cell type-inducible luciferase expression system (NSE::Luci) or via a general luciferase expressing system (SV::Luci) were measured and compared in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NSCs introduced via the neuronal cell type-inducible luciferase expressing system (NSE::Luci-NSCs) showed a high level of luciferase expression, compared to NSCs introduced via a general luciferase expressing system (SV::Luci-NSCs). Interestingly, the luciferase expression level of NSE::Luci-NSCs increased greatly after differentiation into neurons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that a neuronal cell type-inducible gene expression system is suitable for introducing NSCs in combined treatment strategies. We suggest that the proposed strategy may be a promising tool for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, including SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinsoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Youngsang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeomin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Lan
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Do Heum
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Minhyung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hayoon@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008156:Luciferases; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
keywords: Neuronal cell type-inducible transgene expression; combined treatment strategy; neural stem cells; spinal cord injury