Ablation of CNTN2+ Pyramidal Neurons During Development Results in Defects in Neocortical Size and Axonal Tract Formation.

Corticothalamic axons express (CNTN2/TAG-1), a neuronal recognition molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily involved in neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, and fasciculation. TAG-1, which is expressed transiently by cortical pyramidal neurons during embryonic development, has been shown to be fundamental for axonal recognition, cellular migration, and neuronal proliferation in the developing cortex. Although mice do not exhibit any obvious defects in the corticofugal system, the role of TAG-1+ neurons during the development of the cortex remains elusive.

Cytogenetic evaluation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes at different time-points during ex vivo expansion.

Mounting evidence suggests that in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) possess abnormal characteristics and are actively involved in disease pathogenesis. Nevertheless, it is controversial whether these cells harbor clonal cytogenetic aberrations. To probe more deeply into this issue, in the present study we used conventional G-banding and FISH analysis to assess the clonal chromosomal abnormalities of hematopoietic cells (HCs) and cultured MSCs, from 29 MDS patients and 25 healthy individuals, at early, intermediate and late passage.