Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (7): 485-491.

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Dorsal root ganglion progenitors differentiate to gamma-aminobutyric acid- and choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons

Lingli Yu1, 2, Yindi Ding1, 2, Ambre Spencer1, 2, Ji Ma1, Ruisheng Lu1, Brian B. Rudkin1, 2, Chonggang Yuan1   

  1. 1 Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurophysiology, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
    2 Differentiation & Cell Cycle Group, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Science, UMR 5239 CNRS/ENS Lyon/University of Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, IFR128 ”Biosciences Lyon-Gerland” Lyon, 69007, France
  • Received:2011-11-22 Revised:2012-02-11 Online:2012-03-05 Published:2012-03-05
  • About author:Lingli Yu☆, Studying for doctorate, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurophysiology, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; Differentiation & Cell Cycle Group, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Science, UMR 5239 CNRS/ENS Lyon/University of Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, IFR128 ”Biosciences Lyon-Gerland” Lyon, 69007, France Lingli Yu and Yindi Ding contributed equally to this article.

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Abstract:

This study examined the isolation and differentiation of dorsal root ganglion progenitor cells for therapeutic use in neurodegenerative diseases. Rat embryonic dorsal root ganglia progenitors were isolated and purified using the differential adhesion method combined with cytosine arabinoside treatment. After culture in serum-free medium supplemented with B27, basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, these cells remained viable and survived for more than 18 months in vitro. Most cells differentiated to neurons that were immunoreactive for gamma-aminobutyric acid and choline acetyltransferase as detected by immunohistochemical staining. In addition, nerve growth factor and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor expression were also observed in dorsal root ganglion progenitors and differentiated cells. K252a, an inhibitor that blocks nerve growth factor-induced signaling, inhibited cell survival, suggesting the possible existence of a nerve growth factor autocrine loop in these proliferating cells.

Key words: dorsal root ganglion, neural progenitor, differentiation characterization, nerve growth factor, tyrosine kinase receptor type 1