Neural crest-derived multipotent cells in the adult mouse iris stroma

The purpose of this study was to characterize neural crest-derived cells within the adult murine iris. The iris was isolated from P0-Cre/Floxed-EGFP transgenic (TG) mice. The isolated iris cells formed EGFP-positive spheres on non-adhesive culture plates. Immunostaining showed that these EGFP-positive spheres expressed neural crest markers including Sox10 and p75NTR, and these cells showing in vitro sphere-forming ability were originally resided in the iris stroma (IS), in vivo. Real-time RT-PCR showed that the EGFP-positive spheres expressed significantly higher levels of the neural crest markers than EGFP-negative spheres and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, the iris stromal sphere had capability to differentiate into various cell lineages including smooth muscle and cartilage. These data indicate that neural crest-derived multipotent cells can be isolated from the murine IS and expanded in sphere culture.