From marrow to brain: expression of neuronal phenotypes in adult mice

TR Brazelton, FMV Rossi, GI Keshet, HM Blau - Science, 2000 - science.org
TR Brazelton, FMV Rossi, GI Keshet, HM Blau
Science, 2000science.org
After intravascular delivery of genetically marked adult mouse bone marrow into lethally
irradiated normal adult hosts, donor-derived cells expressing neuronal proteins (neuronal
phenotypes) developed in the central nervous system. Flow cytometry revealed a population
of donor-derived cells in the brain with characteristics distinct from bone marrow. Confocal
microscopy of individual cells showed that hundreds of marrow-derived cells in brain
sections expressed gene products typical of neurons (NeuN, 200-kilodalton neurofilament …
After intravascular delivery of genetically marked adult mouse bone marrow into lethally irradiated normal adult hosts, donor-derived cells expressing neuronal proteins (neuronal phenotypes) developed in the central nervous system. Flow cytometry revealed a population of donor-derived cells in the brain with characteristics distinct from bone marrow. Confocal microscopy of individual cells showed that hundreds of marrow-derived cells in brain sections expressed gene products typical of neurons (NeuN, 200-kilodalton neurofilament, and class III β-tubulin) and were able to activate the transcription factor cAMP response element–binding protein (CREB). The generation of neuronal phenotypes in the adult brain 1 to 6 months after an adult bone marrow transplant demonstrates a remarkable plasticity of adult tissues with potential clinical applications.
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