No abstract available.
Embryonic Stem Cells ; Neural Crest

Cell therapeutic agents for treating degenerative brain diseases using neural stem cells are actively being developed. However, few systems have been developed to monitor in real time whether the transplanted neural stem cells are actually differentiated into neurons. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technology capable of specifically monitoring neuronal differentiation in vivo. In this study, we established a system that expresses cell membrane-targeting red fluorescent protein under control of the Synapsin promoter in order to specifically monitor differentiation from neural stem cells into neurons. In order to overcome the weak expression level of the tissue-specific promoter system, the partial 5′ UTR sequence of Creb was added for efficient expression of the cell surface-specific antigen. This system was able to track functional neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells transplanted in vivo, which will help improve stem cell therapies.
Antigens, Surface* ; Brain Diseases ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurons* ; Stem Cells

Lipomatous neurofibroma is a recently described, very rare variant of neurofibroma. It shows a well-circumscribed nodule consisting of fascicles or whorls of spindle cells with an extensive lipomatous component. These fat cells are considered to be an integral part of this tumor, not a metaplastic or degenerative process. It may be due to the differentiation of local stem cells of neural crest. Herein we report a case of lipomatous neurofibroma, the rare pathological variant of neurofibroma with extensive mature fat cells.
Adipocytes ; Neural Crest ; Neurofibroma ; Stem Cells

Cell Competition ; Neural Stem Cells ; Cell Differentiation

PURPOSE: Due to their unique capacity to self-renew and for multiple differentiation, stem cells are considered potent candidates for cell replacement therapy in many devastating diseases. However, studies on immune rejection, which is a major problem facing successful stem cell therapy, are rare. Thus, we examined MHC expression of human stem cells and effects of IFN-gamma on the MHC class I expression of the cells in order to determine whether human stem cells might be rejected after transplantation. METHODS: The MHC antigen expressions of human embryonic neural stem cell line (HB1.F3) and human breast epithelial stem cell line (M13SV1) were examined by RT-PCR and FACS. The effects of varying concentrations of IFN-gamma and of varying incubation times with IFN-gamma on the expression of MHC class I antigens in these stem cell lines were also examined by FACS. RESULTS: The results show low expression levels of MHC class I antigens on surfaces of these cells. A dramatic induction of MHC class I expression was observed when the cells were treated with IFN-gamma. Maximal induction of MHC class I antigen expression in HB1.F3 and M13SV1 cells was observed at above the concentrations of 20 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL of IFN-gamma 48 h after treatment, respectively. Elevated MHC class I levels in HB1.F3 and M13SV1 cells were sustained for 48 h and 72 h after withdrawing IFN-gamma, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that human stem cells express high levels of MHC class I antigens, and thus may be rejected on transplantation unless they are modified. Therefore, in addition to studies on stem cell differentiation, studies on overcoming the immunological barriers to stem cell transplantation are prerequisite for successful clinical application of stem cell therapy.
Adult* ; Breast* ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; Humans* ; Neural Stem Cells* ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells*

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the current research status on stem cell transplantation in the treatment of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and to summarize the recent hotspots of the research in this field. METHODS: Using the key words of "stem cells" and "HIE", a computerized search was performed for the articles in English published before June 1, 2018 in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Microsoft Office Excel 2013 was used for the statistical analysis of key words. Bicomb 2.0 and VOSviewer 1.6.6 were used for the cluster analysis of hot words and plotting of knowledge maps, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 106 articles were included and 43 high-frequency key words were extracted. The words of "cell transplantation" and "hypoxia-ischemia" were in the core position of the co-word map. The cluster analysis showed that the studies of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of neonatal HIE mainly focused on umbilical cord blood cell transplantation (32.6%), mesenchymal stem cells and neural stem cells (29.5%), perinatal brain injury (28.1%), and other topics (9.8%). CONCLUSIONS In the current studies of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of neonatal HIE, umbilical cord blood cell transplantation, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, and perinatal brain injury are popular research topics at different levels.
Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant, Newborn ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Neural Stem Cells ; Stem Cell Transplantation

Stroke activates neural stem cells in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V/SVZ) of the lateral ventricle, which increases neuroblasts and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). Within the ischemic brain, neural stem cells, neuroblasts and OPCs appear to actively communicate with cerebral endothelial cells and other brain parenchymal cells to mediate ischemic brain repair; however, stroke-induced neurogenesis unlikely plays any significant roles in neuronal replacement. In this mini-review, we will discuss recent findings how intercellular communications between stroke-induced neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis and brain parenchymal cells could potentially facilitate brain repair processes.
Brain* ; Endothelial Cells ; Lateral Ventricles ; Neural Stem Cells* ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Oligodendroglia ; Stem Cells ; Stroke

PSMD10(Gankyrin), a proteasome assembly chaperone, is a widely known oncoprotein which aspects many hall mark properties of cancer. However, except proteasome assembly chaperon function its role in normal cell function remains unknown. To address this issue, we induced PSMD10(Gankyrin) overexpression in HEK293 cells and the resultant large-scale changes in gene expression profile were analyzed. We constituted networks from microarray data of these differentially expressed genes and carried out extensive topological analyses. The overrecurring yet consistent theme that appeared throughout analysis using varied network metrics is that all genes and interactions identified as important would be involved in neurogenesis and neuronal development. Intrigued we tested the possibility that PSMD10(Gankyrin) may be strongly associated with cell fate decisions that commit neural stem cells to differentiate into neurons. Overexpression of PSMD10(Gankyrin) in human neural progenitor cells facilitated neuronal differentiation via β-catenin Ngn1 pathway. Here for the first time we provide preliminary and yet compelling experimental evidence for the involvement of a potential oncoprotein – PSMD10(Gankyrin), in neuronal differentiation.
HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Stem Cells ; Transcriptome

Animals ; Neural Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Semaphorins ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Human neural stem cells have at least two types of voltage-dependent potassium channels including inward and outward rectifying potassium channels. Data for the effects of propofol, intravenous anesthetics, on human neural potassium channels are limited. We have examined the effects of propofol on voltage-dependent potassium channels in human neural stem cells. METHODS: Voltage-dependent potassium currents were measured in cultured human neural stem cells using the whole cell patch-clamp technique before and after application of 0.1 mM propofol. Inward and outward rectifying potassium currents were elicited by hyperpolarizing and depolarizing step pulses from -60 mV holding potential, respectively. RESULTS: Propofol was found to reversibly block the outward rectifying potassium current (p<0.05), while the anesthetics did not alter the characteristics of inward rectifying potassium current. The blocking effect of propofol on outward rectifying current was voltage-dependent and enhanced at depolarization potentials above +30 mV (p<0.05). Propofol also decreased the slope conductance of outward potassium current (p<0.05). CoNCLUSION: These results show that propofol may strongly affect the outward potassium channels in human neural stem cells and also suggest a need for investigation into the effect of propofol on the functional regulation of human neural stem cells.
Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Humans* ; Neural Stem Cells ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium* ; Propofol* ; Stem Cells*