Highlights: Volume 226, Number 12

• Book ID: 102313185
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 85 KB
• Volume: 226
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9541
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.23057

✦ Synopsis

A controversial aspect of adult-derived stem cells is whether they have the ability to stably transdifferentiate ("dedifferentiate-redifferentiate") into neural cell types. Spitzer et al. have demonstrated that PBD-MAPCs, novel stem cells derived from blood, have high capacity in vitro to stably differentiate into neural-like cells. Few of the differentiated cells expressed astrocytic markers, indicating the neuronal-like specificity of the process. An interesting finding was the ability of the extracellular matrix to drive neural differentiation, independent of the presence of factors typically used for neural differentiation. This suggests a strong role for laminin and other ECM proteins in neurogenesis. Time-lapse microscopy of the differentiated cells revealed dynamic cell migration (reminiscent of bona fide neural migration), cell-cell interactions, and complex process (neurite) behaviors. Significantly, differentiated cells exhibited voltage-dependent inward and outward currents. Complementing this electrophysiology was the finding that differentiated cells expressed K V 1.5 and Na V 1.2, channels that are also found in neurons of the CNS. This group suggests that neural differentiation is driven largely by extracellular matrix proteins, while soluble factors (e.g., cytokines/neurotrophic molecules) play a role in directing specialization of neural subtypes and maturation of axons or dendrites. Similar cells isolated from human or genetically-modified xenogeneic sources may one day prove to be valuable cellular therapeutics for neurological disorders.