Neurodegeneration augments the ability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to fuse with Purkinje neurons in Niemann-Pick type C mice

Hum Gene Ther. 2005 Aug;16(8):1006-11. doi: 10.1089/hum.2005.16.1006.

Abstract

After transplantation, adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) may undergo transdifferentiation and/or cell fusion in response to new environments. However, the mechanism(s) that govern these cell fate switches remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that the pathology associated with murine Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) cerebellum augments the ability of BM-MSCs to fuse with Purkinje neurons. The results suggest that the degenerative microenvironment of Purkinje neurons in the NP-C cerebellum modulates the cell fate switch of BM-MSCs via cell fusion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Fusion*
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / physiopathology
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Niemann-Pick Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Niemann-Pick Diseases / therapy*
  • Niemann-Pick Diseases / veterinary
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology*