Migration of hNSCs toward BTSCs in vitro and vivo

Abstract

Objective To clarify the capacity of selective migration of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) to brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) derived from glioblastoma in vitro and vivo.Methods The BTSCs were cultured from GBM tissues by Neurosphere culture method and the tropism ability of hNSCs to BTSCs were investigated using in vitro transwell chamber cell migration assay and in vivo tumor tropism studies.Results The BTSCs could be obtained from human GBM tissues,and formed neuroshpheres after cultured 7 days in vitro,and were CD133-positive and nestin-positive.Theses BTSCs could regenerate a GBM tumor in vivo when implanted intraventricularly.Cell migration assay showed that the BTSCs had the capacity to actively attract hNSCs.The fate of hNSCs in vivo could be visualized under confocal fluorescence microscope.The hNSCs exhibited extensive tropism toward the site of the tumor and infiltrate tumor foci.Conclusions The BTSCs could be derived rapidly from GBM tissues by neurosphere method.The normal hNSCs possesse the capacity to migrate toward BTSCs in vitro and vivo.The tropism of hNSCs towards brain tumors may provide an additional tool for the treatment of brain cancer. Key words: Glioblastoma; Brain tumor stem cells; Human neural stem cells ; Tropism