Open AccessThymidine Analogs Are Transferred from Prelabeled Donor to Host Cells in the Central Nervous System After Transplantation: A Word of Caution
Author(s) -
Burns Terry C.,
OrtizGonzález Xilma R.,
GutiérrezPérez María,
Keene C. Dirk,
Sharda Rohit,
Demorest Zachary L.,
Jiang Yuehua,
NelsonHolte Molly,
Soriano Mario,
Nakagawa Yasushi,
Luquin María Rosario,
GarciaVerdugo Jose Manuel,
Prósper Felipe,
Low Walter C.,
Verfaillie Catherine M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0463
Subject(s) - thymidine , biology , bromodeoxyuridine , transplantation , dna synthesis , host (biology) , central nervous system , microbiology and biotechnology , cell division , cell , dna , neuroscience , biochemistry , cell growth , genetics , medicine
Thymidine analogs, including bromodeoxyuridine, chlorodeoxyuridine, iododeoxyuridine, and tritiated thymidine, label dividing cells by incorporating into DNA during S phase of cell division and are widely employed to identify cells transplanted into the central nervous system. However, the potential for transfer of thymidine analogs from grafted cells to dividing host cells has not been thoroughly tested. We here demonstrate that graft‐derived thymidine analogs can become incorporated into host neural precursors and glia. Large numbers of labeled neurons and glia were found 3–12 weeks after transplantation of thymidine analog‐labeled live stem cells, suggesting differentiation of grafted cells. Remarkably, however, similar results were obtained after transplantation of dead cells or labeled fibroblasts. Our findings reveal for the first time that thymidine analog labeling may not be a reliable means of identifying transplanted cells, particularly in highly proliferative environments such as the developing, neurogenic, or injured brain.