The co-transduction of Nurr1 and Brn4 genes induces the differentiation of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons

Fetal brain tissue can be used in cell replacement therapy for PD (Parkinson's disease), but there is a poor donor supply of this tissue. NSCs (neural stem cells) may overcome this problem as they can be isolated and expanded in vitro. However, the usage of NSCs is limited because the different...

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Published in:Cell biology international 2011-12, Vol.35 (12), p.1217-1223
Main Authors: Tan, Xue-Feng, Jin, Guo-Hua, Tian, Mei-Ling, Qin, Jian-Bing, Zhang, Lei, Zhu, Hui-Xia, Li, Hao-Ming
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brn-4
Cell Differentiation
differentiation
dopaminergic neuron
Dopaminergic Neurons - cytology
Dopaminergic Neurons - metabolism
Mesencephalon - cytology
Mesencephalon - metabolism
Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics
neural stem cells
Neural Stem Cells - cytology
Neural Stem Cells - metabolism
nuclear receptor related factor 1 (Nurr1)
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2 - genetics
Parkinson's disease
POU Domain Factors - genetics
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Transduction, Genetic
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Summary:Fetal brain tissue can be used in cell replacement therapy for PD (Parkinson's disease), but there is a poor donor supply of this tissue. NSCs (neural stem cells) may overcome this problem as they can be isolated and expanded in vitro. However, the usage of NSCs is limited because the differentiation of NSCs into specific dopaminergic neurons has proven difficult. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Nurr1 (nuclear receptor related factor 1), a transcription factor specific for the development and maintenance of the midbrain dopaminergic neurons on inducing the differentiation of NSCs into TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) immunoreactive dopaminergic neurons. Nonetheless, these cells exhibited an immature neuronal morphology with small cell bodies and short neurite processes, and they seldom expressed DAT (dopamine transporter), a late marker of mature dopaminergic neurons. However, forced co‐expression of Nurr1 with Brn4, a member of the POU domain family of transcription factors, caused immature Nurr1‐induced dopaminergic neurons to differentiate into morphologically and phenotypically more mature neurons. Thus the enriched generation of mature dopaminergic neurons by forced expression of Nurr1 with Brn4 may be of future importance in NSC‐based cell replacement therapy for PD.
ISSN:1065-6995
1095-8355
DOI:10.1042/CBI20110028