The Amniotic Fluid As a Source of Neural Stem Cells in the Setting of Experimental Neural Tube Defects

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 548-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Turner ◽  
Justin D. Klein ◽  
Junmei Wang ◽  
Devang Thakor ◽  
Darcy Benedict ◽  
...  
2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 1740-1750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Jen Chang ◽  
Hong-Lin Su ◽  
Lee-Feng Hsu ◽  
Po-Jui Huang ◽  
Tzu-Hao Wang ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian Li ◽  
Wenjuan Zhou ◽  
Xinyue Li ◽  
Ming Gao ◽  
Shufang Ji ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the most serious and common birth defects in the clinic. The SRY-related HMG box B1 (SoxB1) gene family has been implicated in different processes of early embryogenesis. Sox19b is a maternally expressed gene in the SoxB1 family that is found in the region of the presumptive central nervous system (CNS), but its role and mechanism in embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) during neural tube development have not yet been explored. Considering that Sox19b is specific to bony fish, we intended to investigate the role and mechanism of Sox19b in neural tube development in zebrafish embryos. Material and methods Morpholino (MO) antisense oligonucleotides were used to construct a Sox19b loss-of-function zebrafish model. The phenotype and the expression of related genes were analysed by in situ hybridization and immunolabelling. Epigenetic modifications were detected by western blot and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results In this study, we found that zebrafish embryos exhibited a reduced or even deleted forebrain phenotype after the expression of the Sox19b gene was inhibited. Moreover, we found for the first time that knockdown of Sox19b reduced the proliferation of NSCs; increased the transcription levels of Ngn1, Ascl1, HuC, Islet1, and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors; and led to premature differentiation of NSCs. Finally, we found that knockdown of Sox19b decreased the levels of EZH2/H3K27me3 and decreased the level of H3K27me3 at the promoters of Ngn1 and ascl1a. Conclusion Together, our data demonstrate that Sox19b plays an essential role in early NSC proliferation and differentiation through EZH2-mediated histone methylation in neural tube development. This study established the role of transcription factor Sox19b and epigenetic factor EZH2 regulatory network on NSC development, which provides new clues and theoretical guidance for the clinical treatment of neural tube defects.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliot C. Pennington ◽  
Kristy L. Rialon ◽  
Beatrice Dionigi ◽  
Azra Ahmed ◽  
David Zurakowski ◽  
...  

Purpose: The proportions of select stem cells in term amniotic fluid have been shown to correlate with the type and size of experimental neural tube defects (NTDs). We sought to determine the impact of gestational age upon this form of targeted amniotic cell profiling. Methods: Sprague-Dawley fetuses with retinoic acid-induced NTDs (n = 110) underwent amniotic fluid procurement at four time points in gestation. Samples were analyzed by flow cytometry for the presence of cells concomitantly expressing Nestin and Sox-2 (neural stem cells, aNSCs) and cells concomitantly expressing CD29 and CD44 (mesenchymal stem cells, aMSCs). Statistical analysis was by nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results: There was a statistically significant impact of gestational age on the proportions of both aMSCs (p = 0.01) and aNSCs (p < 0.01) in fetuses with isolated spina bifida. No such impact was noted in normal fetuses (p > 0.10 for both cells), in isolated exencephaly (p > 0.10 for both cells), or in combination defects (p > 0.10 for both cells). Gestational age had no effect on aNSC/aMSC ratios. Conclusions: Targeted quantitative amniotic cell profiling varies with gestational age in experimental isolated spina bifida. This finding should be considered prior to the eventual translation of this diagnostic adjunct into the prenatal evaluation of these anomalies.


Author(s):  
B A Webb ◽  
S J Richardson ◽  
R Garry ◽  
J Atkins

The measurement of low levels of cholinesterase or acetylcholinesterase by the Ellman method requires correction for a non-enzymatic increase in absorption at 412 mμ that is due both to non-enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetylthiocholine substrate and to modification of the colour reagent. The rate of increase in absorption is dependent on temperature and pH. Addition of an acidic solution of lysivane to the assay solution for selective measurement of amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase gives rise to a shift in pH; the use of methanol is suggested as an easier method of dissolving the inhibitor and does not affect the pH of the assay, obviating any need to redetermine the background absorption. There is, however, no improvement in ability of the method to predict pregnancies associated with neural-tube defects.


1995 ◽  
Vol 172 (5) ◽  
pp. 1436-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Régine P. Steegers-Theunissen ◽  
Godfried H. Boers ◽  
Henk J. Blom ◽  
Jan G. Nijhuis ◽  
Chris M.G. Thomas ◽  
...  

1981 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Haddow ◽  
M E Morin ◽  
M S Holman ◽  
W A Miller

Abstract A single-blind study involving amniotic-fluid samples from 214 pregnancies of known outcome confirms that an electrophoretically distinct isoenzyme of acetylcholinesterase is associated with fetal open neural tube defects. Furthermore, only one of 13 amniotic-fluid samples with false-positive results for alpha-fetoprotein showed the characteristic isoenzyme, indicating that qualitative acetylcholinesterase assessment can decrease the proportion of false positives from the alpha-fetoprotein assay. We have also identified this characteristic isoenzyme in amniotic fluids from pregnancies in which other serious fetal defects occurred. A detailed electrophoresis protocol for identifying this characteristic isoenzyme is described.


2018 ◽  
pp. 39-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher McCulloh ◽  
Yu Zhou ◽  
Gail E. Besner

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document