Neurons derived from transplanted neural stem cells restore disrupted neuronal circuitry in a mouse model of spinal cord injury
Masahiko Abematsu, … , Setsuro Komiya, Kinichi Nakashima
Masahiko Abematsu, … , Setsuro Komiya, Kinichi Nakashima
Published August 16, 2010
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2010;120(9):3255-3266. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI42957.
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Research Article

Neurons derived from transplanted neural stem cells restore disrupted neuronal circuitry in a mouse model of spinal cord injury

Abstract

The body’s capacity to restore damaged neural networks in the injured CNS is severely limited. Although various treatment regimens can partially alleviate spinal cord injury (SCI), the mechanisms responsible for symptomatic improvement remain elusive. Here, using a mouse model of SCI, we have shown that transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) together with administration of valproic acid (VPA), a known antiepileptic and histone deacetylase inhibitor, dramatically enhanced the restoration of hind limb function. VPA treatment promoted the differentiation of transplanted NSCs into neurons rather than glial cells. Transsynaptic anterograde corticospinal tract tracing revealed that transplant-derived neurons reconstructed broken neuronal circuits, and electron microscopic analysis revealed that the transplant-derived neurons both received and sent synaptic connections to endogenous neurons. Ablation of the transplanted cells abolished the recovery of hind limb motor function, confirming that NSC transplantation directly contributed to restored motor function. These findings raise the possibility that epigenetic status in transplanted NSCs can be manipulated to provide effective treatment for SCI.

Authors

Masahiko Abematsu, Keita Tsujimura, Mariko Yamano, Michiko Saito, Kenji Kohno, Jun Kohyama, Masakazu Namihira, Setsuro Komiya, Kinichi Nakashima

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Figure 3

VPA promotes neuronal differentiation of transplanted NSCs.

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VPA promotes neuronal differentiation of transplanted NSCs. Representati...
Representative results of GFP-NSC–transplanted SCI model mice are shown. (A) Confocal images of NSCs 1 week after transplantation into the injured spinal cords. Spinal cord sections from VPA-treated (+) and untreated (–) mice were stained with anti-GFP (green), anti-doublecortin (DCX) (immature neuronal marker, red) and anti-GFAP (magenta) antibodies, and Hoechst (blue). VPA administration resulted in an increase in the number of DCX-positive neuronal precursors among transplanted cells (lower panel). Scale bar: 20 μm. (B–D) The percentages of DCX-, GFAP-, and MBP-positive cells in GFP-positive transplanted cells were quantified. **P < 0.01; *P < 0.05 compared with controls (Student’s t test). (E) Confocal images of NSCs 5 weeks after transplantation into injured spinal cords. Spinal cord sections from VPA-treated (+) and untreated (–) mice were stained with anti-GFP (green), anti-MAP2 (neuronal marker, red) and anti-GFAP (magenta) antibodies, and Hoechst (blue). VPA administration increased the numbers of MAP2-positive neurons (lower panel). Scale bar: 20 μm. (F and G) The percentages of cells positive for MAP2 or GFAP in GFP-positive transplanted cells in E were quantified. **P < 0.01; *P < 0.05 compared with control (Student’s t test). All data shown in B–D, F, and G are from at least 15 confocal images of 3 individuals in parallel experiments, with error bars representing the SD.