title: Human-induced pluripotent stem cells generated from intervertebral disc cells improve neurologic functions in spinal cord injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a promising cell source for immune-compatible cell therapy. Although a variety of somatic cells have been tried for iPSC generation, it is still of great interest to test new cell types, especially those which are hardly obtainable in a normal situation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we generated iPSCs by using the cells originated from intervertebral disc which were removed during a spinal operation after spinal cord injury. We investigated the pluripotency of disc cell-derived iPSCs (diPSCs) and neural differentiation capability as well as therapeutic effect in spinal cord injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diPSCs displayed similar characteristics to human embryonic stem cells and were efficiently differentiated into neural precursor cells (NPCs) with the capability of differentiation into mature neurons in vitro. When the diPSC-derived NPCs were transplanted into mice 9 days after spinal cord injury, we detected a significant amelioration of hindlimb dysfunction during follow-up recovery periods. Histological analysis at 5 weeks after transplantation identified undifferentiated human NPCs (Nestin(+)) as well as early (Tuj1(+)) and mature (MAP2(+)) neurons derived from the transplanted NPCs. Furthermore, NPC transplantation demonstrated a preventive effect on spinal cord degeneration resulting from the secondary injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that intervertebral discs removed during surgery for spinal stabilization after spinal cord injury, previously considered a "waste" tissue, may provide a unique opportunity to study iPSCs derived from difficult-to-access somatic cells and a useful therapeutic resource for autologous cell replacement therapy in spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. 187ojs@yuhs.ac.|Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. 187ojs@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jinsoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 335 Pankyoro, Bundanggu, Seongnam, 463-400, Korea. palgac@naver.com.|Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, CHA University, 335 Pankyoro, Bundanggu, Seongnam, 463-400, Korea. palgac@naver.com.
authors.forename: Kang-In
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 335 Pankyoro, Bundanggu, Seongnam, 463-400, Korea. khtgood77@hanmail.net.|Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, CHA University, 335 Pankyoro, Bundanggu, Seongnam, 463-400, Korea. khtgood77@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Hyeong-Taek
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. ysyou7@yuhs.ac.|Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. ysyou7@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Youngsang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. ydoheum@yuhs.ac.|Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. ydoheum@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Do Heum
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. gysong88@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Ki Yeong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. eunjicheong@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Eunji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. hayoon@yuhs.ac.|Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. hayoon@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 335 Pankyoro, Bundanggu, Seongnam, 463-400, Korea. hdy@cha.ac.kr.|Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, CHA University, 335 Pankyoro, Bundanggu, Seongnam, 463-400, Korea. hdy@cha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Youn
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D015222:Sodium Channels; D014157:Transcription Factors