Activation of dendritic-like cells and neural stem/progenitor cells in injured spinal cord by GM-CSF

Kaori Hayashi, Shigeki Ohta, Yutaka Kawakami, Masahiro Toda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previously, we demonstrated that implanted dendritic cells (DCs) in the injured spinal cord of adult mice exert a neurotrophic effect, resulting in the activation of endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) and neurogenesis. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which is an essential cytokine for the generation of DCs from haematopoietic progenitor cells, has been shown to be beneficial for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). In the present study, to evaluate the mechanisms underlying this therapeutic efficacy of GM-CSF, we investigated the effects of GM-CSF on the DC-like cells and NSPCs in the injured spinal cord. When GM-CSF was injected into the injured spinal cords of mice, the numbers of DC-like cells and activated microglia/macrophages around the lesion site increased, accompanied by an increase in BDNF expression. A significant increase in endogenous NSPCs was observed around the lesion site in the GM-CSF-treated mice compared with that in the controls. A neurosphere forming assay revealed that GM-CSF also induced the proliferation of NSPCs in vitro. Moreover, injection of GM-CSF into the lesion immediately after the SCI resulted in early recovery of the locomotor function of the injured mice. In conclusion, GM-CSF activated DC-like cells and NSPCs in the injured spinal cord, which was probably involved in its beneficial effects in cases of spinal cord injury.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)96-103
Number of pages8
JournalNeuroscience Research
Volume64
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 May

Keywords

  • Dendritic cells
  • Immune cells
  • Neural stem cells
  • Regeneration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)

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