Feline Neural Progenitor Cells I: Long-Term Expansion under Defined Culture Conditions.

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) of feline origin (cNPCs) have demonstrated utility in transplantation experiments, yet are difficult to grow in culture beyond the 1 month time frame. Here we use an enriched, serum-free base medium (Ultraculture) and report the successful long-term propagation of these cells. Primary cultures were derived from fetal brain tissue and passaged in DMEM/F12-based or Ultraculture-based proliferation media, both in the presence of EGF + bFGF.

Feline neural progenitor cells II: use of novel plasmid vector and hybrid promoter to drive expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor transgene.

Sustained transgene expression is required for the success of cell transplant-based gene therapy. Most widely used are lentiviral-based vectors which integrate into the host genome and thereby maintain sustained transgene expression. This requires integration into the nuclear genome, and potential risks include activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes.

Efficient transduction of feline neural progenitor cells for delivery of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor using a feline immunodeficiency virus-based lentiviral construct.

Work has shown that stem cell transplantation can rescue or replace neurons in models of retinal degenerative disease. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) modified to overexpress neurotrophic factors are one means of providing sustained delivery of therapeutic gene products in vivo. To develop a nonrodent animal model of this therapeutic strategy, we previously derived NPCs from the fetal cat brain (cNPCs).

Wnt pathway-related gene expression in inflammatory bowel disease.

The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of Wnt pathway-related genes in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). RNA from colonoscopic biopsies from noninflammatory bowel disease (non-IBD) subjects and UC patients were obtained and examined with a Wnt-specific microarray for the expression of Wnt pathway-related genes. Paired samples from uninflamed and inflamed areas of the colon were obtained for the UC patients.

Expression of Wnt pathway components frizzled and disheveled in colon cancer arising in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Mutations in apc which lead to activation of the Wnt signaling pathway are a hallmark of sporadic colon cancers but occur infrequently in colon cancers arising in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There is evidence, however, that other components of the Wnt pathway may be altered in IBD-related colon cancer. In this study, we examined the expression the Wnt pathway components frizzled (Fz), the cell surface receptor, and disheveled (DVL), a family of cytoplasmic signal transduction molecules, in IBD and IBD-related colon cancer.