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Neural stem/progenitor cells damaged by reactive oxygen species evolved in photosensitizing reaction

Hideki Mori1, Yosuke Yoshida, Masayuki Hara

  • 1Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-2 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka 599-8570, Japan.

Neuroscience Letters
|February 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Reactive oxygen species generated during photosensitization injure neural stem cells. Immature neural stem/progenitor cells are more sensitive to this damage than differentiated cells.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Neural stem/progenitor cells share similarities with central nervous system tumor cells.
  • Photosensitizing reactions generate reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • Understanding ROS effects on neural stem cells is crucial for potential therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of photosensitizers on mouse neural stem/progenitor cells in vitro.
  • To determine the role of ABC transporters in photosensitizer handling by these cells.
  • To assess the differential sensitivity of stem and differentiated cells to ROS-induced damage.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro culture of mouse neural stem/progenitor cells.
  • Treatment with photosensitizers (rhodamine 123, hematoporphyrin) and light illumination.
  • Assessment of cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis.
  • Immunocytochemical staining for stem cell markers (Sox2, CD133, nestin) and ABC transporters.

Main Results:

  • Photosensitizers, under illumination, generated ROS that induced apoptosis and necrosis in neural stem/progenitor cells.
  • ABC transporters were expressed and actively effluxed the photosensitizers.
  • Cell death was not significantly altered by ABC transporter inhibitors.
  • Immature neural stem/progenitor cells (Sox2, CD133, nestin positive) exhibited higher sensitivity to ROS-induced injury compared to differentiated cells.

Conclusions:

  • Photosensitization-induced ROS can effectively reduce neural stem/progenitor cell viability.
  • Immature neural stem/progenitor cells are particularly vulnerable to ROS-mediated damage.
  • These findings have implications for photodynamic therapies targeting CNS tumors.

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