Geminin Participates in Differentiation Decisions of Adult Neural Stem Cells Transplanted in the Hemiparkinsonian Mouse Brain

Abstract

Neural stem cells have been considered as a source of stem cells that can be used for cell replacement therapies in neurodegenerative diseases, as they can be isolated and expanded in vitro and can be used for autologous grafting. However, due to low percentages of survival and varying patterns of differentiation, strategies that will enhance the efficacy of transplantation are under scrutiny. In this article, we have examined whether alterations in Geminin's expression, a protein that coordinates the balance between self-renewal and differentiation, can improve the properties of stem cells transplanted in 6-OHDA hemiparkinsonian mouse model. Our results indicate that, in the absence of Geminin, grafted cells differentiating into dopaminergic neurons were decreased, while an increased number of oligodendrocytes were detected. The number of proliferating multipotent cells was not modified by the absence of Geminin. These findings encourage research related to the impact of Geminin on transplantations for neurodegenerative disorders, as an important molecule in influencing differentiation decisions of the cells composing the graft.

The DNA methylome in panic disorder: a case-control and longitudinal psychotherapy-epigenetic study

“…Additional exploratory analyses based on biological validity and a combined statistical/biological ranking point to further new potential PD risk genes such as the C-C motif chemokine ligand 4 like 1 gene ( CCL4L1 ), a cytokine gene, and the GMNN gene, coding for Geminin, a DNA replication inhibitor highly conserved across species and involved in cellular proliferation and neural differentiation 34 .…”

Geminin Orchestrates Somite Formation by Regulating Fgf8 and Notch Signaling

“…Geminin, in addition to its well-known role in regulating cell cycle [ 31 – 33 ], is involved in the regulation of neuronal development, hematopoiesis, and stem cell maintenance [ 34 – 41 ]. In zebrafish, geminin also plays a critical role in gastrulation cell movement, eye development, and left-right (LR) patterning [ 42 – 44 ].…”