Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cell (EPI-NCSC)-Mediated Recovery of Sensory Function in a Mouse Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Oliver Clewes, Professor Maya Sieber-Blum

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Here we show that epidermal neural crest stem cell (EPI-NCSC) transplants in the contused spinal cord caused a 24% improvement in sensory connectivity and a substantial recovery of touch perception. Furthermore we present a novel method for the ex vivo expansion of EPI-NCSC into millions of stem cells that takes advantage of the migratory ability of neural crest stem cells and is based on a new culture medium and the use of microcarriers. Functional improvement was shown by two independent methods, spinal somatosensory evoked potentials (SpSEP) and the Semmes-Weinstein touch test. Subsets of transplanted cells differentiated into myelinating oligodendrocytes. Unilateral injections of EPI-NCSC into the lesion of midline contused mouse spinal cords elicited bilateral improvements. Intraspinal EPI-NCSC did not migrate laterally in the spinal cord or invade the spinal roots and dorsal root ganglia, thus implicating diffusible factors. EPI-NCSC expressed neurotrophic factors, angiogenic factors, and metalloproteases. The strength of EPI-NCSC thus is that they can exert a combination of pertinent functions in the contused spinal cord, including cell replacement, neuroprotection, angiogenesis and modulation of scar formation. EPI-NCSC are uniquely qualified for cell-based therapy in spinal cord injury, as neural crest cells and neural tube stem cells share a higher order stem cell and are thus ontologically closely related.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Hu YF, Gourab K, Wells C, Clewes O, Schmit BD, Sieber-Blum M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Stem Cell Reviews and Reports

Year: 2010

Volume: 6

Issue: 2

Pages: 186-198

Print publication date: 01/06/2010

ISSN (print): 1550-8943

ISSN (electronic): 1558-6804

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12015-010-9152-3

DOI: 10.1007/s12015-010-9152-3


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share