Embryonic cortical neural stem cells migrate ventrally and persist as postnatal striatal stem cells

Embryonic cortical neural stem cells apparently have a transient existence, as they do not persist in the adult cortex. We sought to determine the fate of embryonic cortical stem cells by following Emx1IREScre; LacZ/EGFP double-transgenic murine cells from midgestation into adulthood. Lineage tracing in combination with direct cell labeling and time-lapse video microscopy demonstrated that Emx1-lineage embryonic cortical stem cells migrate ventrally into the striatal germinal zone (GZ) perinatally and intermingle with striatal stem cells. Upon integration into the striatal GZ, cortical stem cells down-regulate Emx1 and up-regulate Dlx2, which is a homeobox gene characteristic of the developing striatum and striatal neural stem cells. This demonstrates the existence of a novel dorsal-to-ventral migration of neural stem cells in the perinatal forebrain.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Direct cell-cell contact with the vascular niche maintains quiescent neural stem cells.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.719710075.793506153 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Mirna Perez-Moreno

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Cell Contact ◽

Vascular Niche ◽

Direct Cell ◽

Cell Cell

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Improved biocompatibility and efficient labeling of neural stem cells with poly(L-lysine)-coated maghemite nanoparticles

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology ◽

10.3762/bjnano.7.84 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 926-936 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Igor M Pongrac ◽

Marina Dobrivojević ◽

Lada Brkić Ahmed ◽

Michal Babič ◽

Miroslav Šlouf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Cellular Uptake ◽

Cell Tracking ◽

Cellular Migration ◽

Cell Labeling ◽

Blue Staining ◽

Maghemite Nanoparticles ◽

Acetoxymethyl Ester

Background: Cell tracking is a powerful tool to understand cellular migration, dynamics, homing and function of stem cell transplants. Nanoparticles represent possible stem cell tracers, but they differ in cellular uptake and side effects. Their properties can be modified by coating with different biocompatible polymers. To test if a coating polymer, poly(L-lysine), can improve the biocompatibility of nanoparticles applied to neural stem cells, poly(L-lysine)-coated maghemite nanoparticles were prepared and characterized. We evaluated their cellular uptake, the mechanism of internalization, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation of neural stem cells, and compared them to the commercially available dextran-coated nanomag®-D-spio nanoparticles. Results: Light microscopy of Prussian blue staining revealed a concentration-dependent intracellular uptake of iron oxide in neural stem cells. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and the calcein acetoxymethyl ester/propidium iodide assay demonstrated that poly(L-lysine)-coated maghemite nanoparticles scored better than nanomag®-D-spio in cell labeling efficiency, viability and proliferation of neural stem cells. Cytochalasine D blocked the cellular uptake of nanoparticles indicating an actin-dependent process, such as macropinocytosis, to be the internalization mechanism for both nanoparticle types. Finally, immunocytochemistry analysis of neural stem cells after treatment with poly(L-lysine)-coated maghemite and nanomag®-D-spio nanoparticles showed that they preserve their identity as neural stem cells and their potential to differentiate into all three major neural cell types (neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). Conclusion: Improved biocompatibility and efficient cell labeling makes poly(L-lysine)-coated maghemite nanoparticles appropriate candidates for future neural stem cell in vivo tracking studies.

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