Activation of type I interferon antiviral response in human neural stem cells

Abstract Background Neural stem cells (NSCs) residing in the central nervous system play an important role in neurogenesis. Several viruses can infect these neural progenitors and cause severe neurological diseases. The innate immune responses against the neurotropic viruses in these tissue-specific stem cells remain unclear. Methods Human NSCs were transfected with viral RNA mimics or infected with neurotropic virus for detecting the expression of antiviral interferons (IFNs) and downstream IFN-stimulated antiviral genes. Results NSCs are able to produce interferon-β (IFN-β) (type I) and λ1 (type III) after transfection with poly(I:C) and that downstream IFN-stimulated antiviral genes, such as ISG56 and MxA, and the viral RNA sensors RIG-I, MDA5, and TLR3, can be expressed in NSCs under poly(I:C) or IFN-β stimulation. In addition, our results show that the pattern recognition receptors RIG-I and MDA5, as well as the endosomal pathogen recognition receptor TLR3, but not TLR7 and TLR8, are involved in the activation of IFN-β transcription in NSCs. Furthermore, NSCs infected with the neurotropic viruses, Zika and Japanese encephalitis viruses, are able to induce RIG-I-mediated IFN-β expression. Conclusion Human NSCs have the ability to activate IFN signals against neurotropic viral pathogens.

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Genetically engineered human neural stem cells for brain repair in neurological diseases

Brain and Development ◽

10.1016/j.braindev.2006.07.012 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 193-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Seung U. Kim

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Neurological Diseases ◽

Genetically Engineered ◽

Brain Repair ◽

Human Neural Stem Cells

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Development of Neural Stem Cells for Treatment of Neurological Diseases

Archives of Neurology ◽

10.1001/archneur.60.2.297-b ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 297 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Karl K. Johe

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Neurological Diseases

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mRNA-Driven Generation of Transgene-Free Neural Stem Cells from Human Urine-Derived Cells

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells8091043 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 1043 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Phil Jun Kang ◽

Daryeon Son ◽

Tae Hee Ko ◽

Wonjun Hong ◽

Wonjin Yun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Human Urine ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Embryonic Stem ◽

Global Gene Expression ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Human Neural Stem Cells

Human neural stem cells (NSCs) hold enormous promise for neurological disorders, typically requiring their expandable and differentiable properties for regeneration of damaged neural tissues. Despite the therapeutic potential of induced NSCs (iNSCs), a major challenge for clinical feasibility is the presence of integrated transgenes in the host genome, contributing to the risk for undesired genotoxicity and tumorigenesis. Here, we describe the advanced transgene-free generation of iNSCs from human urine-derived cells (HUCs) by combining a cocktail of defined small molecules with self-replicable mRNA delivery. The established iNSCs were completely transgene-free in their cytosol and genome and further resembled human embryonic stem cell-derived NSCs in the morphology, biological characteristics, global gene expression, and potential to differentiate into functional neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Moreover, iNSC colonies were observed within eight days under optimized conditions, and no teratomas formed in vivo, implying the absence of pluripotent cells. This study proposes an approach to generate transplantable iNSCs that can be broadly applied for neurological disorders in a safe, efficient, and patient-specific manner.

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BCOR Internal Tandem Duplication Expression in Neural Stem Cells Promotes Growth, Invasion, and Expression of PRC2 Targets

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22083913 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (8) ◽

pp. 3913

Author(s):

Satoshi Nakata ◽

Ming Yuan ◽

Jeffrey A. Rubens ◽

Ulf D. Kahlert ◽

Jarek Maciaczyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Tandem Duplication ◽

Target Genes ◽

Cellular Growth ◽

Central Nervous System Tumor ◽

Internal Tandem Duplication ◽

Invasion And Migration ◽

Human Neural Stem Cells ◽

And Migration

Central nervous system tumor with BCL6-corepressor internal tandem duplication (CNS-BCOR ITD) is a malignant entity characterized by recurrent alterations in exon 15 encoding the essential binding domain for the polycomb repressive complex (PRC). In contrast to deletion or truncating mutations seen in other tumors, BCOR expression is upregulated in CNS-BCOR ITD, and a distinct oncogenic mechanism has been suggested. However, the effects of this change on the biology of neuroepithelial cells is poorly understood. In this study, we introduced either wildtype BCOR or BCOR-ITD into human and murine neural stem cells and analyzed them with quantitative RT-PCR and RNA-sequencing, as well as growth, clonogenicity, and invasion assays. In human cells, BCOR-ITD promoted derepression of PRC2-target genes compared to wildtype BCOR. A similar effect was found in clinical specimens from previous studies. However, no growth advantage was seen in the human neural stem cells expressing BCOR-ITD, and long-term models could not be established. In the murine cells, both wildtype BCOR and BCOR-ITD overexpression affected cellular differentiation and histone methylation, but only BCOR-ITD increased cellular growth, invasion, and migration. BCOR-ITD overexpression drives transcriptional changes, possibly due to altered PRC function, and contributes to the oncogenic transformation of neural precursors.

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