Wnt5a-treated midbrain neural stem cells improve dopamine cell replacement therapy in parkinsonian mice
J. Clin. Invest. Clare L. Parish, et al. 118:149 doi:10.1172/JCI32273 [Go to this article.]

Figure 6
Improved differentiation of Nurr1⁺ DA precursors and expression of midbrain-specific markers by VMN-Wnt5a cells in vivo. (A) Number of TH⁺ and Nurr1⁺ cells within the grafts and (B) ratio of TH⁺ to Nurr1⁺ cells. Note there is no significant difference between TH⁺ and Nurr1⁺ cell number in VMN-Wnt5a grafts, suggesting that almost all precursor cells (i.e., 88%) adopted a DA fate (see D), unlike in VMN grafts alone, where numerous Nurr1⁺TH^– cells were observed (C, arrows). Data are mean ± SD (n = 6 per group). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01, Student’s t test. (E) Pitx3/TH and (F) GIRK2/TH staining within the grafts confirmed midbrain phenotype. (G–K) Expression profile of midbrain DA neuron genes involved in development and function, as assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Both early and late genes in DA development were upregulated in VMN-Wnt5a grafts. Data are mean ± SD (n = 3–4 per group). *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001, ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test. Scale bar: 50 μm.