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Dopaminergic neuronal differentiation from rat embryonic neural precursors by Nurr1 overexpression
Author(s) -
Kim JuYeon,
Koh Hyun Chul,
Lee JiYeon,
Chang MiYoon,
Kim YouChan,
Chung HeeYong,
Son Hyeon,
Lee YongSung,
Studer Lorenz,
McKay Ron,
Lee SangHun
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01780.x
Subject(s) - dopaminergic , dopamine , neuroscience , midbrain , biology , embryonic stem cell , transplantation , in vivo , neural stem cell , oxidopamine , microbiology and biotechnology , substantia nigra , medicine , endocrinology , central nervous system , stem cell , biochemistry , gene
In vitro expanded CNS precursors could provide a renewable source of dopamine (DA) neurons for cell therapy in Parkinson's disease. Functional DA neurons have been derived previously from early midbrain precursors. Here we demonstrate the ability of Nurr1, a nuclear orphan receptor essential for midbrain DA neuron development in vivo , to induce dopaminergic differentiation in naïve CNS precursors in vitro . Independent of gestational age or brain region of origin, Nurr1‐induced precursors expressed dopaminergic markers and exhibited depolarization‐evoked DA release in vitro . However, these cells were less mature and secreted lower levels of DA than those derived from mesencephalic precursors. Transplantation of Nurr1‐induced DA neuron precursors resulted in limited survival and in vivo differentiation. No behavioral improvement in apomorphine‐induced rotation scores was observed. These results demonstrate that Nurr1 induces dopaminergic features in naïve CNS precursors in vitro . However, additional factors will be required to achieve in vivo function and to unravel the full potential of neural precursors for cell therapy in Parkinson's disease.