Real-time imaging of transplanted stem cells is essential for understanding their interactions in vivo with host environments, for tracking cell fate and function and for successful delivery and safety monitoring in the clinical setting. In this study, we used bioluminescence (BLI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the fate of grafted human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in stroke-damaged rat brain. The hNSCs were genetically engineered with a lentiviral vector carrying a double fusion (DF) reporter gene that stably expressed enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) and firefly luciferase (fLuc) reporter genes. The hNSCs were self-renewable, multipotent, and expressed markers for neural stem cells. Cell survival was tracked noninvasively by MRI and BLI for 2 months after transplantation and confirmed histologically. Electrophysiological recording from grafted GFP(+) cells and immuno-electronmicroscopy demonstrated connectivity. Grafted hNSCs differentiated into neurons, into oligodendrocytes in stroke regions undergoing remyelination and into astrocytes extending processes toward stroke-damaged vasculatures. Our data suggest that the combination of BLI and MRI modalities provides reliable real-time monitoring of cell fate.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835224 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/mt.2009.104 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein MEI-P26 modulates the size of Drosophila Type I neuroblast lineages.
Genetics
January 2025
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1M1.
The Drosophila TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein (RBP), MEI-P26, has previously been shown to suppress tumor formation in the germline. Here we show that, in the Drosophila larval central brain, cell-type specific expression of MEI-P26 plays a vital role in regulating neural development. MEI-P26 and another TRIM-NHL RBP, Brain tumor (BRAT), have distinct expression patterns in Type I neuroblast (NB) lineages: While both proteins are expressed in NBs, BRAT is expressed in ganglion mother cells (GMCs) but not neurons whereas MEI-P26 is expressed in neurons but not GMCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF3D Mechanical Response Stem Cell Complex Repairs Spinal Cord Injury by Promoting Neurogenesis and Regulating Tissue Homeostasis.
Adv Healthc Mater
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to acute tissue damage that disrupts the microenvironmental homeostasis of the spinal cord, inhibiting cell survival and function, and thereby undermining treatment efficacy. Traditional stem cell therapies have limited success in SCI, due to the difficulties in maintaining cell survival and inducing sustained differentiation into neural lineages. A new solution may arise from controlling the fate of stem cells by creating an appropriate mechanical microenvironment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman Neural Stem Cell Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injury-A Systematic Review of Pre-Clinical Studies.
J Neurotrauma
January 2025
Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Human neural stem cells (hNSCs) possess significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of global death and disability. Recent pre-clinical studies have shown that hNSCs reduce tissue damage and promote functional recovery through neuroprotective and regenerative signaling and cell replacement. Yet the overall efficacy of hNSCs for TBI indications remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGFAPβ and GFAPδ Isoforms Expression in Mesenchymal Stem Cells, MSCs Differentiated Towards Schwann-like, and Olfactory Ensheathing Cells.
Curr Issues Mol Biol
January 2025
Laboratorio de Desarrollo y Regeneración Neural, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45220, Jalisco, Mexico.
Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiated towards Schwann-like have plasticity properties. These cells express the Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a type of cytoskeletal protein that significantly regulates many cellular functions, including those that promote cellular plasticity needed for regeneration. However, the expression of GFAP isoforms (α, β, and δ) in these cells has not been characterized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces.
Cells
January 2025
Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, Japan.
Nestin is a type VI intermediate filament protein and a well-known neural stem cell marker. It is also expressed in high-grade cancer cells, forming copolymerized filaments with vimentin. We previously showed that nestin inhibits the binding of vimentin's tail domain to actin filaments (AFs) by steric hindrance through its large nestin tail domain (NTD), thereby increasing three-dimensional cytoskeleton network mobility, enhancing cell flexibility, and promoting cancer progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!