Cytokine-induced conversion of mesencephalic-derived progenitor cells into dopamine neurons

We have previously shown that a combination of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can convert rat fetal (E14.5) mesencephalic progenitor cells into tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in vitro. The experiments described here characterize the mesencephalic progenitor cells and their cytokine-induced conversion into dopamine (DA) neurons. For all experiments, we used bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)ir cultures of (E14.5) mesencephalic progenitor cells that had been expanded at least 21 days. We first demonstrated that IL-1 induced DA neuron conversion in mesencephalic progenitors, but not in striatal progenitors (P<0.001). Thus, these cells should be classified as lineage-restricted progenitors, and not omnipotent stem cells. To further characterize cell populations in these cultures, we used monoclonal antibodies against Hu tan early marker for neurons), growth-associated protein (GAP)-43 (a marker far neuronal process extension), TH (a marker for DA neurons), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, a marker for astrocytes). We assessed (E14.5) mesencephalic progenitor cell cultures (plated at 125,000 cells/cm(2)) incubated in the cytokine mixture (described above) or in complete media (CM, negative control). Following 7 days incubation, GFAP-positive cells formed a nearly confluent carpet in both types of cultures. However, numbers of Hu-ir and GAP-43-ir cells in the cytokine-incubated cultures far exceeded those in CM-incubated controls (P=0.0003, P=0.0001, respectively), while numbers of TH-ir cells were 58-fold greater in the cytokine-incubated cultures versus CM-incubated controls. The TH phenotype persisted for 7 days following withdrawal of the differentiation media. Numerous double-labeled cells that were BrdU-ir and also TH-ir, or Hu-ir and also TH-ir, were observed in the cytokine-incubated cultures. These data suggest that cytokines "drive" the conversion of progenitor cells into DA neurons.