Stem Cell integration

The use of stem cell transplantation in the damaged central nervous system may be a promising repair strategy which is currently being investigated by numerous research groups worldwide. Nevertheless, getting the cells to connect with the right parts of the brain (in experimental models) has so far proved challenging.

The team of Dr. James Weimann and his colleagues at Stanford Medical School in California transplanted nerve precursor cells derived from embryonic stem cells in the mouse cerebral cortex after conditioning them in vitro with a specific set of bone-marrow cells. These transplanted cells then specialized into cortical neurons and successfully projected into the appropriate brain regions while avoiding the inappropriate areas.

The establishment of such connections was already achieved with tissue grafts but for the first time it has been accomplished on a large scale using dissociated cells.

The authors conclude that cells derived from embryonic stem cells can integrate into the correct brain circuits, which represents an essential element of any future successful neuronal replacement strategy.

Original publication: Murine embryonic stem cell-derived pyramidal neurons integrate into the cerebral cortex and appropriately project axons to subcortical targets. Ideguchi M, Palmer TD, Recht LD, Weimann JM. J Neurosci. 2010 Jan 20;30(3):894-904.