Stem cells: Engrafted stem cell properties
Nature Communications
October 17, 2012
A better understanding of engrafted stem cells in situ is required before we progress towards their successful clinical application in therapies. Research in Nature Communications assesses the safety and efficacy of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs), and finds their behaviour differs when engrafted into rats from that predicted by experiments in cell culture.
NSPC transplantation is a promising treatment for neurodegenerative disorders, but until now researchers have not analysed their profile after transplantation. Seiji Okada and colleagues evaluated, and compared, the cellular properties of the cells pre-transplantation, after seven days in culture, in naive, and in injured spinal cord in mice. Using bioimaging, flow-cytometric isolation and ultra-high-throughput RNA sequencing they show that although the cells had beneficial effects on spinal cord injury, their behaviour differed significantly from predictions based on work in cell cultures. The results highlight the vulnerability of these cells to their environment, but emphasise the importance of further analysis before the advance of stem cell based therapies.
doi: 10.1038/ncomms2132
Research highlights
-
Jul 1
Criminology: Predicting police enforcement bias in major US citiesNature Human Behaviour
-
Jul 1
Evolution: Pandas gave bamboo the thumbs up at least six million years agoScientific Reports
-
Jul 1
Space health: The path of most resistance could help limit bone loss during spaceflightScientific Reports
-
Jun 30
Genomics: Gray wolf genome hints at dual ancestry of dogsNature
-
Jun 30
Evolution: Hawks learn on the fly to swoop up before perchingNature
-
Jun 30
Microbiology: Transmission of gastrointestinal viruses in salivaNature