• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.247-252
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• 2004

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the inner cell mass of the preimplantation embryo. Human ES cells have the capacity to differentiate into various types of cells in the body. Human ES cells are indefinite source of cells for cell therapy in various degenerative disorders including neuronal disorders. Directed differentiation of human ES cells is a prerequisite for their clinical application. The objective of this study is to develop the culture condition for the derivation of neural precursor cells from human ES cells. Neural precursor cells were derived from human ES cells in a stepwise culture condition. Neural precursor cells in the form of neural rosette structures developed into neurospheres when cultured in suspension. Suspension culture of neurospheres has been maintained over 4 months. Expressions of nestin, soxl, sox2, pax3 and pax6 transcripts were upregulated during differentiation into neural precursor cells by RT-PCR analysis. In contrast, expression of oct4 was dramatically downregulated in neural precursor cells. Immunocytochemical analyses of neural precursor cells demonstrated expression of nestin and SOX1. When induced to differentiate on an adhesive substrate, neuro-spheres were able to differentiate into three lineages of neural systems, including neurons, astrocytes and oligo-dendrocytes. Transcripts of sox1 and pax6 were downregulated during differentiation of neural precursor cells into neurons. In contrast, expression of map2ab was elevated in the differentiated cells, relative to those in neural precursor cells. Neurons derived from neural precursor cells expressed NCAM, Tuj1, MAP2ab, NeuN and NF200 in immunocytochemical analyses. Presence of astrocytes was confirmed by expression of GFAP immuno-cytochemically. Oligodendrocytes were also observed by positive immuno-reactivities against oligodendrocyte marker O1. Results of this study demonstrate that a stepwise culture condition is developed for the derivation of neural precursor cells from human ES cells.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.221-226
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• 2007

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are known to have an infinite proliferation and pluripotency that are associated with complex processes. The objective of this study was to examine expression of genes differentially regulated during differentiation of human ES cells by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Human ES cells were induced to differentiate into neural precursor cells via embryoid body. Neural precursor cells were isolated physically based on morphological criteria. Immunocytochemical analysis showed expression of pax6 in neural precursor cells, confirming that the isolated cells were neural precursor cells. Undifferentiated human ES cells and neural precursor cells were subject to the SSH. TPX2 (Targeting Protein for Xklp2 (Xenopus centrosomal kinesin-like protein 2)) was identified, cloned and analyzed during differentiation of human ES cells into neural lineages. Expression of TPX2 was gradually down-regulated in embryoid bodies and neural precursor cells relative to undifferentiated ES cells. Targeting Protein for Xklp2 has been shown to be involved in cell division by interaction with microtubule development in cancer cells. Taken together, result of this study suggests that TPX2 may be involved in proliferation and differentiation of human ES cells.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.267-272
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• 2007

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the inner cell mass of the preimplantation embryo and have the capacity to differentiate into various types of cells in the body. Hence, these cells may potentially be an indefinite source of cells for cell therapy in various degenerative diseases including neuronal disorders. For clinical applications of human ES cells, directed differentiation of these cells would be necessary. The objective of this study is to develop the culture condition for the expansion of neural precursor cells derived from human ES cells. Human ES cells were able to differentiate into neural precursor cells upon a stepwise culture condition. Neural precursor cells were propagated up to 5000-fold in cell numbers over 12-week period of culture and evaluated for their characteristics. Expressions of sox1 and pax6 transcripts were dramatically up-regulated along the differentiation stages by RT-PCR analysis. In contrast, expressions of oct4 and nanog transcripts were completely disappeared in neural precursor cells. Expressions of nestin, pax6 and sox1 were also confirmed in neural precursor cells by immunocytochemical analysis. Upon differentiation, the expanded neural precursor cells differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In immunocytochemical analysis, expressions of type III ${\beta}$-tubulin and MAP2ab were observed Presence of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were also confirmed by expressions of GFAP and O4, respectively. Results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of long-term expansion of human ES cell-derived neural precursor cells in vitro, which can be a potential source of the cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.175-180
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• 2012

Skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent, sphere-forming and embryonic neural crest-related precursor cells that can be isolated from dermis. It is known that the properties of porcine SKPs can be enhanced by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) which is an essential factor for the generation of embryonic stem cells in mice. In our present study, to enhance or maintain the properties of murine SKPs, LIF was added to the culture medium. SKPs were treated with 1,000 IU LIF for 72 hours after passage 3. Quantitative real time RT-PCR was then performed to quantify the expression of the pluripotent stem cell specific genes Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and c-Myc, and the neural crest specific genes Snai2 and Ngfr. The results show that the expression of Oct4 is increased in murine SKPs by LIF treatment whereas the level of Ngfr is decreased under these conditions. Interestingly, LIF treatment reduced Nanog expression which is also important for cell proliferation in adult stem cells and for osteogenic induction in mesenchymal stem cells. These findings implicate LIF in the maintenance of stemness in SKPs through the suppression of lineage differentiation and in part through the control of cell proliferation.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

만능성 인간 배아줄기세포로부터 확립된 신경줄기세포 또는 신경전구세포는 퇴행성 신경질환 세포치료제로 이용될 수 있는 다양한 종류의 신경세포로 분화 유도될 수 있다. 하지만, 인간 배아줄기세포로부터 신경세포를 생산하기 위한 기술은 아직 많은 장애를 가지고 있다. 인간 배아줄기세포 유래 신경전구세포에서 특징적으로 나타나는 신경관 유사로제트에 대한 이해는 인간 배아줄기세포 신경 분화의 효율을 높이는데 유용한 정보를 제공할 것으로 사료된다. 일반적으로 신경로제트(neural rosette)는 분화 중인 배아체를 부착 배양함으로써 유도하지만, 이 방법은 시간이 걸리고 복잡하다는 단점이 있다. 본 연구에서는 신경로제트가 부착배양을 하지 않고 부유배양으로 형성될 수 있는지 조사하였다. 우선적으로, 배아체 형성 및 신경분화에 인간 배아줄기세포 클럼프(clump) 크기가 영향을 주는지를 조사하였고, 사방 $500\;{\mu}m$ 크기의 인간 배아줄기세포 클럼프가 신경 분화 유도에 가장 효과적임을 확인하였다. 로제트 형성을 유도하기 위해, 사방 $500\;{\mu}m$ 크기의 인간 배아줄기세포 클럼프를 1주일 동안 EB 배양배지에 부유 배양함으로써 균일한 크기의 배아체를 얻은 후, NES 배양 배지에서 부가적으로 $1{\sim}2$주 동안 계속 부유 배양한 결과, $7{\sim}10$일 사이에 신경관 유사 로제트가 형성됨을 확인하였다. 로제트 형성 세포의 신경전구세포로서 특성은 RT-PCR과 면역형광염색법을 이용한 신경전구세포 특이적 마커(vimentivi, nestin, MSI1, MSI2, Sox1, Tuj1) 발현을 통해 확인하였다. 또한, 성장인자를 제외한 NES 배양 배지에서 신경로제트를 $2{\sim}6$주 동안 지속적으로 배양하면 성숙 신경세포로의 말단 분화가 유도됨을 확인하였다. 신경세포 특이적 마커(Tuj1, MAP2, GABA)와 신경아교 특이적 마커($S100{\beta}$, GFAP)는 $2{\sim}3$주 또는 4주 후에 각각 발현이 유도됨을 확인하였고, 희소 돌기아교 특이적 마커(O1과 CNPase)는 $5{\sim}6$주 후에 발현이 증가함을 확인하였다. 본 연구결과는 신경로제트가 부유 배양시스템에서 성공적으로 형성됨을 보여주고 있으며, 이는 인간 배아줄기세포의 신경 분화를 이해하고, 신경전구세포 유도 과정을 단순화하는데 효과적으로 이용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.209-214
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• 2010

Cells that have endogenous multipotent properties can be used as a starting source for the generation of induced pluripotent cells (iPSC). In addition, small molecules associated with epigenetic reprogramming are also widely used to enhance the multi- or pluripotency of such cells. Skinderived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent, sphereforming and embryonic neural crest-related precursor cells. These cells can be isolated from a juvenile or adult mammalian dermis. SKPs are also an efficient starting cell source for reprogramming and the generation of iPSCs because of the high expression levels of Sox2 and Klf4 in these cells as well as their endogenous multipotency. In this study, valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was tested in the generation of iPSCs as a potential enhancer of the reprogramming potential of SKPs. SKPs were isolated from the back skins of 5-6 week old C57BL/6 X DBA/2 F1 mice. After passage 3, the SKPs was treated with 2 mM of VPA and the quantitative real time RT-PCR was performed to quantify the expression of Oct4 and Klf4 (pluripotency specific genes), and Snai2 and Ngfr (neural crest specific genes). The results show that Oct4 and Klf4 expression was decreased by VPA treatment. However, there were no significant changes in neural crest specific gene expression following VPA treatment. Hence, although VPA is one of the most potent of the HDAC inhibitors, it does not enhance the reprogramming of multipotent skin precursor cells in mice.

• BMB Reports
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.128-133
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• 2016

Astrocytes play a critical role in normal brain functions and maintaining the brain microenvironment, and defects in astrocytogenesis during neurodevelopment could give rise to severe mental illness and psychiatric disorders. During neuro-embryogenesis, astrocytogenesis involves astrocytic differentiation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) induced by signals from ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP). However, in contrast to the CNTF signaling pathway, the exact mechanism underlying astrocytic differentiation induced by PACAP is unknown. In the present study, we aimed to verify a signaling pathway specific to PACAP-induced astrocytogenesis, using exchange protein directly activated by cAMP2 (Epac2)-knockout mice. We found that PACAP could trigger astrocytic differentiation of NPCs via Epac2 activation and an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration via a calcium ion influx. Taken together, we concluded that astrocytogenesis stimulated by PACAP occurs through a novel signaling pathway independent from CNTF-JAK/STAT signaling, that is the well-known pathway of astrocytogenesis.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.85-96
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• 2009

The differentiation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) into neurons and astrocytes is a process that is tightly controlled by complicated and ill-defined gene networks. To extend our knowledge to gene networks, we performed a temporal analysis of gene expression during the differentiation (2, 4, and 8 days) of spinal cord-derived NPCs using oligonucleotide microarray technology. Out of 32,996 genes analyzed, 1878 exhibited significant changes in expression level (fold change>2, p<0.05) at least once throughout the differentiation process. These 1878 genes were classified into 12 groups by k-means clustering, based on their expression patterns. K-means clustering analysis revealed that the genes involved in astrogenesis were categorized into the clusters containing constantly upregulated genes, whereas the genes involved in neurogenesis were grouped to the cluster showing a sudden decrease in gene expression on Day 8. Functional analysis of the differentially expressed genes indicated the enrichment of genes for Pax6- NeuroD signaling.TGFb-SMAD and BMP-SMAD.which suggest the implication of these genes in the differentiation of NPCs and, in particular, key roles for Nova1 and TGFBR1 in the neurogenesis/astrogenesis of mouse spinal cord.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권12호
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• pp.2033-2041
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• 2007

For many years, it has been demonstrated that neurotrophins regulate the adult nervous system, implicating their potential as therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. We generated adenoviral vectors encoding brain-derived neutotrophin factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and tested either separately or together for the ability to induce differentiation of neuronal precursor cells with two different origins. Separate transduction of adenovirus delivering BDNF (BDNF-Ad) or NT3 (NT3-Ad) induced the neuronal differentiation in hippocampal and cortical precursor cells. NT3-Ad infected cells extended short neurites, whereas BDNF-Ad infected cells had longer neurites. In the early differentiation of hippocampal precursor cells, simultaneous infection of BDNF-Ad and NT3-Ad promoted further differentiation and neurite elongation compared with the separate infection of each virus. In contrast, simultaneous infection did not show the synergistic effect in the cortical precursor cells, suggesting that the neurotrophins play distinct roles in different regions of the brain. However, the numbers of neurites and spines per differentiated cells were markedly increased in cortical as well as hippocampal precursor cells, indicating the promotion of efficient neurite elongation and formation of dendritic spine, when BDNF-Ad and NT3-Ad were co-infected. These results suggest more studies in the effect of a combinatorial use of neurotrophins on different sites of brain need to be carried out to develop gene therapy protocols for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.203-209
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• 2008

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid found in Coptidis Rhizoma(goldenthread) extract, has multiple pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-ischemic effects. In the present study, we examined the effects of berberine on neuronal survival and differentiation in a hippocampal precursor cell line and in the memory deficient rat model. Berberine increased in a dose dependent manner the survival of hippocampal precursor cells as well as differentiated cells. In addition, berberine promoted neuronal differentiation of hippocampal precursor cells. In the memory deficient rat model induced by stereotaxic injection of ibotenic acid into entorhinal cortex(Ibo model), hippocampal cells were increased about 2.7 fold in the pyramidal layer of CA1 region and about 2 fold in the dentate gyrus by administration of berberine after 2 weeks of ibotenic acid injection. Furthermore, neuronal cells immunoreactive to calbindin were increased in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex area by administration of berberine. Taken together, these results suggest that berberine has neuroprotective effect in the Ibo model rat brain by promoting the neuronal survival and differentiation.