Analysis of glycosphingolipid composition of a neural progenitor cell line

Abstract

Continuous neurogenesis from neural stem cells in adult brain suggests the possibility that these newly generated neural tissue may be capable of repair of the neurodegeneration associated with genetic disorders, trauma, and aging. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play important roles in cellular growth, differentiation and cell signalling; however, little is known about the GSL composition in neural progenitor and/or stem cells. In order to characterize the GSL composition in neural stem cells, we studied the multipotential C17.2 cell line that was generated after myc‐transformation of isolated from neonatal mouse cerebellar neural progenitor cells. The developmental potential of C17.2 cells is similar to the endogenous neural stem cells, i.e. they are capable of self‐renewal and differentiation into neurons and glia (Snyder et al. Cell68, 33–51, 1992). HPTLC analysis of the total lipid fractions isolated undifferentiated C17.2 cells revealed that the major GSL expressed in these cells were glucosylceramide, GM3, GM2, GM1, and GD1a. Histochemical staining for GM1 using cholera toxin B subunit revealed punctate staining on the plasma membrane, suggesting GM1 at the plasma membrane, maybe clustered into microdomain‐like structures. Our results indicate that the undifferentiated C17.2 neural stem cell line is unique in expression of a‐series gangliosides. These gangliosides may prove to be useful markers for these cells.Acknowledgements: Supported by an NIH grant NS11853 and a grant from the Children's Medical Research Foundation.