Porcine skin-derived progenitor (SKP) spheres and neurospheres: Distinct "stemness" identified by microarray analysis

Skin-derived progenitors (SKP) are neural crest derived and can generate neural and mesodermal progeny in vitro, corresponding to the multipotency of neural crest stem cells. Likewise, neural stem/progenitor cells (displaying as neurospheres) have the capacity of self-renewing, and can produce most phenotypes in the nervous system. Both form spheres when cultured with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Although the "stemness" of neural stem/progenitor cells has been extensively investigated, the molecular comparison of SKP spheres and neurospheres has not been elucidated. Here, SKP spheres and neurospheres from the same individual porcine fetuses were isolated with the same culture medium, and the multipotency was tested by in vitro differentiation assays. Microarray analysis was used to illustrate the "stemness" of SKP spheres and neurospheres. The upregulated genes that were in common in the SKP spheres and neurospheres are involved in ribosome, tight junction, gap junction, cell communication, calcium signaling, ErbB signaling, JAK-STAT signaling, MAPK signaling, etc. The differentially expressed genes between SKP spheres and neurospheres are mainly involved in ECM-receptor interaction and the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b) signaling pathway. Finally, treatment with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or MEK inhibitor results in a distinctive impact on the "stemness" and differentiation genes of SKP spheres and neurospheres. Thus, the cell-intrinsic genetic program may contribute to the innate "stemness" of SKP spheres and neurospheres in a similar local microenvironment.