| Abstract: |
In vitro expanded CNS precursors could provide a renewable source of dopamine (DA) neurons for cell therapy in Parkinson's disease. Functional DA neurons have been derived previously from early midbrain precursors. Here we demonstrate the ability of Nurr1, a nuclear orphan receptor essential for midbrain DA neuron development in vivo, to induce dopaminergic differentiation in naïve CNS precursors in vitro. Independent of gestational age or brain region of origin, Nurr1-induced precursors expressed dopaminergic markers and exhibited depolarization-evoked DA release in vitro. However, these cells were less mature and secreted lower levels of DA than those derived from mesencephalic precursors. Transplantation of Nurr1-induced DA neuron precursors resulted in limited survival and in vivo differentiation. No behavioral improvement in apomorphine-induced rotation scores was observed. These results demonstrate that Nurr1 induces dopaminergic features in naïve CNS precursors in vitro. However, additional factors will be required to achieve in vivo function and to unravel the full potential of neural precursors for cell therapy in Parkinson's disease. |
| Keywords: |
controlled study; protein expression; unclassified drug; dna-binding proteins; nonhuman; animal cell; animals; cell survival; cells, cultured; gene expression; embryo; animal experiment; protein; stem cell transplantation; in vivo study; cell differentiation; neurons; in vitro study; animalia; transcription factors; transduction, genetic; stem cell; gestational age; rat; scoring system; stem cells; rats; ascorbic acid; mesencephalon; graft survival; rats, sprague-dawley; motor activity; disease models, animal; parkinson disease; nerve cell differentiation; dopamine; dopaminergic nerve cell; adoptive immunotherapy; cell transplantation; retroviridae; antigens, differentiation; differentiation; astrocytes; embryo cell; nuclear receptor related factor 1; parkinson's disease; parkinsonian disorders; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; dopamine neuron; male; priority journal; article; dopamine release; cns precursor; nurr1; tyrosine hydroxylase expression; apomorphine; depolarization
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