搜索结果: 'NeuroCult Proliferation'

Caspase proteases have become the focal point for the development and application of anti-apoptotic therapies in a variety of central nervous system diseases. However,this approach is based on the premise that caspase function is limited to invoking cell death signals. Here,we show that caspase-3 activity is elevated in nonapoptotic differentiating neuronal cell populations. Moreover,peptide inhibition of protease activity effectively inhibits the differentiation process in a cultured neurosphere model. These results implicate caspase-3 activation as a conserved feature of neuronal differentiation and suggest that targeted inhibition of this protease in neural cell populations may have unintended consequences. View Publication

We determined the embryonic origins of adult forebrain subventricular zone (SVZ) stem cells by Cre-lox fate mapping in transgenic mice. We found that all parts of the telencephalic neuroepithelium,including the medial ganglionic eminence and lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) and the cerebral cortex,contribute multipotent,self-renewing stem cells to the adult SVZ. Descendants of the embryonic LGE and cortex settle in ventral and dorsal aspects of the dorsolateral SVZ,respectively. Both populations contribute new (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-labeled) tyrosine hydroxylase- and calretinin-positive interneurons to the adult olfactory bulb. However,calbindin-positive interneurons in the olfactory glomeruli were generated exclusively by LGE-derived stem cells. Thus,different SVZ stem cells have different embryonic origins,colonize different parts of the SVZ,and generate different neuronal progeny,suggesting that some aspects of embryonic patterning are preserved in the adult SVZ. This could have important implications for the design of endogenous stem cell-based therapies in the future. View Publication

Surgery is an essential component in the treatment of brain tumors. However,delineating tumor from normal brain remains a major challenge. We describe the use of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy for differentiating healthy human and mouse brain tissue from tumor-infiltrated brain based on histoarchitectural and biochemical differences. Unlike traditional histopathology,SRS is a label-free technique that can be rapidly performed in situ. SRS microscopy was able to differentiate tumor from nonneoplastic tissue in an infiltrative human glioblastoma xenograft mouse model based on their different Raman spectra. We further demonstrated a correlation between SRS and hematoxylin and eosin microscopy for detection of glioma infiltration (κ = 0.98). Finally,we applied SRS microscopy in vivo in mice during surgery to reveal tumor margins that were undetectable under standard operative conditions. By providing rapid intraoperative assessment of brain tissue,SRS microscopy may ultimately improve the safety and accuracy of surgeries where tumor boundaries are visually indistinct. View Publication

BIX01294 (Bix) is known to be a euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2 inhibitor and treatment with Bix suppresses cancer cell survival and proliferation. In the present study,it was observed that sequential treatment with low-dose Bix notably increases glioblastoma cell migration and metastasis. It was demonstrated that U251 cells sequentially treated with low-dose Bix exhibited induced characteristic changes in critical epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers,including E-cadherin,N-cadherin,β-catenin and zinc finger protein SNAI2. Notably,sequential treatment with Bix also increased the expression of cancer stem cell-associated markers,including sex determining region Y-box 2,octamer-binding transcription factor 4 and cluster of differentiation 133. Neurosphere formation was significantly enhanced in cells sequentially treated with Bix,compared with control cells (control: P=0.011; single treatment of Bix,P=0.045). The results of the present study suggest that accumulation of low-dose Bix enhanced the migration and metastatic potential of glioblastoma cells by regulating EMT-associated gene expression,which may be the cause of the altered properties of glioblastoma stem cells. View Publication

It is generally believed that cerebellar granule neurons originate exclusively from granule neuron precursors (GNPs) in the external germinal layer (EGL). Here we identified a rare population of neuronal progenitors in mouse developing cerebellum that expresses Nestin. Although Nestin is widely considered a marker for multipotent stem cells,these Nestin-expressing progenitors (NEPs) are committed to the granule neuron lineage. Unlike conventional GNPs,which reside in the outer EGL and proliferate extensively,NEPs reside in the deep part of the EGL and are quiescent. Expression profiling revealed that NEPs are distinct from GNPs and,in particular,express markedly reduced levels of genes associated with DNA repair. Consistent with this,upon aberrant activation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling,NEPs exhibited more severe genomic instability and gave rise to tumors more efficiently than GNPs. These studies revealed a previously unidentified progenitor for cerebellar granule neurons and a cell of origin for medulloblastoma. View Publication

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors are frequently amplified and/or possess gain-of-function mutations in GBM However,clinical trials of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors have shown disappointing efficacy,in part due to intra-tumor heterogeneity. To assess the effect of clonal heterogeneity on gene expression,we derived an approach to map single-cell expression profiles to sequentially acquired mutations identified from exome sequencing. Using 288 single cells,we constructed high-resolution phylogenies of EGF-driven and PDGF-driven GBMs,modeling transcriptional kinetics during tumor evolution. Descending the phylogenetic tree of a PDGF-driven tumor corresponded to a progressive induction of an oligodendrocyte progenitor-like cell type,expressing pro-angiogenic factors. In contrast,phylogenetic analysis of an EGFR-amplified tumor showed an up-regulation of pro-invasive genes. An in-frame deletion in a specific dimerization domain of PDGF receptor correlates with an up-regulation of growth pathways in a proneural GBM and enhances proliferation when ectopically expressed in glioma cell lines. In-frame deletions in this domain are frequent in public GBM data. View Publication

The aetiology of human fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinomas (hFL-HCCs),cancers occurring increasingly in children to young adults,is poorly understood. We present a transplantable tumour line,maintained in immune-compromised mice,and validate it as a bona fide model of hFL-HCCs by multiple methods. RNA-seq analysis confirms the presence of a fusion transcript (DNAJB1-PRKACA) characteristic of hFL-HCC tumours. The hFL-HCC tumour line is highly enriched for cancer stem cells as indicated by limited dilution tumourigenicity assays,spheroid formation and flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry on the hFL-HCC model,with parallel studies on 27 primary hFL-HCC tumours,provides robust evidence for expression of endodermal stem cell traits. Transcriptomic analyses of the tumour line and of multiple,normal hepatic lineage stages reveal a gene signature for hFL-HCCs closely resembling that of biliary tree stem cells--newly discovered precursors for liver and pancreas. This model offers unprecedented opportunities to investigate mechanisms underlying hFL-HCCs pathogenesis and potential therapies. View Publication

OBJECTIVE Oxidative stress in the brain is highly prevalent in many neurodegenerative disorders including lysosomal storage disorders,in which neurodegeneration is a devastating manifestation. Despite intense studies,a precise mechanism linking oxidative stress to neuropathology in specific neurodegenerative diseases remains largely unclear. METHODS Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a devastating neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal-1 (CLN1) gene encoding palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-1. Previously,we reported that in the brain of Cln1 (-/-) mice,which mimic INCL,and in postmortem brain tissues from INCL patients,increased oxidative stress is readily detectable. We used molecular,biochemical,immunohistological,and electrophysiological analyses of brain tissues of Cln1 (-/-) mice to study the role(s) of oxidative stress in mediating neuropathology. RESULTS Our results show that in Cln1 (-/-) mice oxidative stress in the brain via upregulation of the transcription factor,CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-δ,stimulated expression of serpina1,which is an inhibitor of a serine protease,neurotrypsin. Moreover,in the Cln1 (-/-) mice,suppression of neurotrypsin activity by serpina1 inhibited the cleavage of agrin (a large proteoglycan),which substantially reduced the production of agrin-22,essential for synaptic homeostasis. Direct whole-cell recordings at the nerve terminals of Cln1 (-/-) mice showed inhibition of Ca(2+) currents attesting to synaptic dysfunction. Treatment of these mice with a thioesterase-mimetic small molecule,N-tert (Butyl) hydroxylamine (NtBuHA),increased agrin-22 levels. INTERPRETATION Our findings provide insight into a novel pathway linking oxidative stress with synaptic pathology in Cln1 (-/-) mice and suggest that NtBuHA,which increased agrin-22 levels,may ameliorate synaptic dysfunction in this devastating neurodegenerative disease. View Publication

Although inhibition of p16(INK4a) expression is critical to preserve the proliferative capacity of stem cells,the molecular mechanisms responsible for silencing p16(INK4a) expression remain poorly characterized. Here,we show that the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) monocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (MOZ) controls the proliferation of both hematopoietic and neural stem cells by modulating the transcriptional repression of p16(INK4a) . In the absence of the HAT activity of MOZ,expression of p16(INK4a) is upregulated in progenitor and stem cells,inducing an early entrance into replicative senescence. Genetic deletion of p16(INK4a) reverses the proliferative defect in both Moz(HAT) (-) (/) (-) hematopoietic and neural progenitors. Our results suggest a critical requirement for MOZ HAT activity to silence p16(INK4a) expression and to protect stem cells from early entrance into replicative senescence. View Publication

Fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are key intracellular molecules involved in the uptake,transportation and storage of fatty acids and in the mediation of signal transduction and gene transcription. However,little is known regarding their expression and function in the oligodendrocyte lineage. We evaluate the in vivo and in vitro expression of FABP5 and FABP7 in oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the cortex and corpus callosum of adult mice,mixed cortical culture and oligosphere culture by immunofluorescent counter-staining with major oligodendrocyte lineage markers. In all settings,FABP7 expression was detected in NG2(+)/PDGFRα(+) oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) that did not express FABP5. FABP5 was detected in mature CC1(+)/MBP(+) oligodendrocytes that did not express FABP7. Analysis of cultured OPCs showed a significant decrease in the population of FABP7-knockout (KO) OPCs and their BrdU uptake compared with wild-type (WT) OPCs. Upon incubation of OPCs in oligodendrocyte differentiation medium,a significantly lower percentage of FABP7-KO OPCs differentiated into O4(+) oligodendrocytes. The percentage of mature MBP(+) oligodendrocytes relative to whole O4(+)/MBP(+) oligodendrocytes was significantly lower in FABP7-KO and FABP5-KO than in WT cell populations. The percentage of terminally mature oligodendrocytes with membrane sheet morphology was significantly lower in FABP5-KO compared with WT cell populations. Thus,FABP7 and FABP5 are differentially expressed in oligodendrocyte lineage cells and regulate their proliferation and/or differentiation. Our findings suggest the involvement of FABP7 and FABP5 in the pathophysiology of demyelinating disorders,neuropsychiatric disorder and glioma,conditions in which OPCs/oligodendrocytes play central roles. View Publication

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) often survive therapy and give rise to second-line tumors. We tested the plausibility of sphere cultures as models of TICs. Microarray data and microRNA data analysis confirmed the validity of spheres as models of TICs for breast and prostate cancer as well as mesothelioma cell lines. Microarray data analysis revealed the Trp pathway as the only pathway upregulated significantly in all types of studied TICs,with increased levels of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1),the rate-limiting enzyme of Trp metabolism along the kynurenine pathway. All types of TICs also expressed higher levels of the Trp uptake system consisting of CD98 and LAT1 with functional consequences. IDO1 expression was regulated via both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms,depending on the cancer type. Serial transplantation of TICs in mice resulted in gradually increased IDO1. Mitocans,represented by α-tocopheryl succinate and mitochondrially targeted vitamin E succinate (MitoVES),suppressed IDO1 in TICs. MitoVES suppressed IDO1 in TICs with functional mitochondrial complex II,involving transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. IDO1 increase and its suppression by VE analogues were replicated in TICs from primary human glioblastomas. Our work indicates that IDO1 is increased in TICs and that mitocans suppress the protein. View Publication

Glycolipids are amphipathic molecules which are highly expressed on cell membranes in skin and brain where they mediate several key cellular processes. Neural stem cells are defined as undifferentiated,proliferative,multipotential cells with extensive self-renewal and are responsive to brain injury. Di-rhamnolipid: α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoic acid,also referred to as di-rhamnolipid BAC-3,is a glycolipid isolated from the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the previous studies,di-rhamnolipid enhanced dermal tissue healing and regeneration. The present study provides the first assessment of di-rhamnolipid,and glycolipid biosurfactants in general,on the nervous system. Treatment of neural stem cells isolated from the lateral ventricle of adult mice and cultured in defined media containing growth factors at 0.5 and 1 μg/ml of di-rhamnolipid increased the number of neurospheres (2.7- and 2.8-fold,respectively) compared to controls and this effect remained even after passaging in the absence of di-rhamnolipid. In addition,neural stem cells treated with di-rhamnolipid at 50 and 100 μg/ml in defined media supplemented with fetal calf serum and without growth factors exhibited increased cell viability,indicating an interaction between di-rhamnolipid and serum components in the regulation of neural stem cells and neuroprogenitors. Intracerebroventricular administration of di-rhamnolipid at 300 and 120 ng/day increased the number of neurospheres (1.3- and 1.63-fold,respectively) that could be derived from the anterior lateral ventricles of adult mice. These results indicate that di-rhamnolipid stimulates proliferation of neural stem cells and increases their endogenous pools which may have therapeutic potential in managing neurodegenerative or neuropsychiatric disorders and promoting nervous tissue regeneration following injury. View Publication