OBJECTIVETo investigate the culture method of skin-derived precursors (SKPs) and to explore a new cell source for cell transplantation of central nervous system.

METHODSCells from skins of juvenile and adult mice were isolated and cultured in serum-free medium. A mechanical method was chosen to passage these cells and they were identified by the immunocytochemistry assay.

RESULTSSKPs could be isolated from adult and neonatal skins. They could be maintained in vitro for long periods with stable proliferation, and expanded as undifferentiated cells in culture for more than 12 passages. About 50% of SKPs expressed nestin and majority of these cells expressed fibronectin when they were plated on polyornithine and laminin coated plates. About 5% cells showed neuronal differentiation and expressed neurofilament-M (NF-M) and NSE when SKPs were plated in serum-containing medium, and these cells could also differentiate into adipocytes and fibroblast-like cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe data support the hypothesis that adult skin contains stem cells capable of differentiating into neurons, adipocytes, and fibroblast-like cells. They may represent an alternative autologous stem cell source for CNS cell transplantation.