| 摘要 |
The invention relates to formation of replicative cells from multipotential stem cells. As the most numerous cell type in the brain, astrocytes are coupled via gap junction channels. It is believed that communication among astrocytes is normally regulated by extracellular ions, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. However, the level of astrocyti c coupling is altered in abnormal conditions such as stroke, brain trauma and Alzheimer's disease. A well established human progenitor cell line, NT2/D1, has been previously differentiated into pure neuronal cultures. For the first time, we report the differentiation of NT2/ D1 cells into astrocytes, which express connexin43 and are coupled via gap junctions. Thus , human NT2/D1 cells are not merely committed neuronal progenitors but, similar to t he embryonal stem cells, they can give rise to both lineages. This has potential in treatment of various forms of neurological deficiency. Other replicative cells may be formed from multipotential stem cells according to the invention.
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