Isolation of neural stem cells from the postnatal cerebellum

Audra Lee, Jessica D. Kessler, Tracy Ann Read, Constanze Kaiser, Denis Corbeil, Wieland B. Huttner, Jane E. Johnson, Robert J. Wechsler-Reya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

419 Scopus citations

Abstract

The cerebellum is critical for motor coordination and cognitive function and is the target of transformation in medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Although the development of granule cells, the most abundant neurons in the cerebellum, has been studied in detail, the origins of other cerebellar neurons and glia remain poorly understood. Here we show that the murine postnatal cerebellum contains multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs). These cells can be prospectively isolated based on their expression of the NSC marker prominin-1 (CD133) and their lack of markers of neuronal and glial lineages (lin-). Purified prominin+lin- cells form self-renewing neurospheres and can differentiate into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons in vitro. Moreover, they can generate each of these lineages after transplantation into the cerebellum. Identification of cerebellar stem cells has important implications for the understanding of cerebellar development and the origins of medulloblastoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)723-729
Number of pages7
JournalNature Neuroscience
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Isolation of neural stem cells from the postnatal cerebellum'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this