Protocol for Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells into Spinal Cord Neural Stem Cells
Overview of Recent Research
A recent study published in Nature Methods outlines a protocol for converting embryonic stem cells into spinal cord neural stem cells. This research demonstrated the capability of these cells to engraft and enhance motor function in a rat model. Various research groups in neuroscience are exploring the regenerative properties of neural stem cells, which are undifferentiated cells that can develop into neurons and other cell types. These unique characteristics position neural stem cells as promising candidates for repairing injuries and treating nervous system diseases.
From Embryonic Cells to Neural Stem Cells
Currently, the field lacks a standardized protocol for producing spinal cord neural stem cells from human embryonic stem cells, which are derived from fertilized eggs donated for research with informed consent. To fill this gap, a research team from California investigated methods for producing and maintaining these stem cells, publishing their findings in Nature Methods.
Culturing Neural Stem Cells
The researchers identified specific factors that, when added to embryonic stem cell cultures, facilitated the conversion to high-purity neural stem cells. This conversion process took three days, followed by an additional seven days during which the neural stem cells remained undifferentiated. The team then tackled the challenge of preserving the stem cell properties while generating sufficient quantities for future applications. They incorporated three different proteins into the culture to differentiate the cells into spinal cord stem cells, simultaneously promoting their ability to self-renew over several months.
Neural Stem Cells and Spinal Cord Injury Recovery
To assess the potential of these cells to differentiate into various cell types within the spinal cords of animals, the researchers employed a rat model of spinal injury. After inducing spinal injuries, they injected neural stem cells into the rats’ spines. Over a span of three months, the stem cells not only expanded significantly but also differentiated into various cell types. Subsequent experiments indicated that injecting neural stem cells improved hind limb function in rats with spinal injuries.
Significance and Future Directions
This study introduces a novel protocol for generating spinal cord neural stem cells in the laboratory, providing a thorough characterization of these cells. Remarkably, the stem cells were stably expanded over several months while maintaining their essential characteristics, and they successfully differentiated within the rat spinal cord, leading to improved motor function in injured subjects.
The findings have significant implications for the clinical application of neural stem cells in treating conditions such as spinal cord injuries. Future research will aim to determine whether the engraftment of these neural stem cells can effectively treat spinal cord injuries in primate models, and ultimately in humans.
Written by Branson Chen, BHSc
Reference: Kumamaru H, Kadoya K, Adler AF, Takashima Y, Graham L, Coppola G, Tuszynski MH. Generation and post-injury integration of human spinal cord neural stem cells. Nature Methods. 2018 Aug 6:1.