Valproic acid promotes the neuronal differentiation of spiral ganglion neural stem cells with robust axonal growth
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Highlights: • Hearing loss occurs with loss of both hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). • SGN-neural stem cells (NSCs) may be a source of SGN regeneration. • Valproic acid (VPA) induces neural differentiation of SGNs and inhibits their proliferation. • VPA-treated SGN-NSCs show longer neurite outgrowths than those cultured without bFGF. • The effects of VPA are related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation. Hearing loss occurs with the loss of hair cells of the cochlea and subsequent degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Regeneration of SGNs is a potentially promising therapeutic approach to hearing loss in addition to the use of a cochlear implant (CI), because this device stimulates SGNs directly to restore hearing bypassing the missing hair cells. The presence of SGN-neural stem cells (NSCs) has been reported in adult human and mice. These cells have the potential to become SGNs and thus represent a cellular foundation for regeneration therapies for hearing loss. Valproic acid (VPA) has been shown to influence the neural differentiation of NSCs through multiple signaling pathways involving glycogen synthase kinase3β (GSK3β). Our present study therefore aimed to modulate the neural differentiation potential of SGN-NSCs by treatment with VPA. We here report that a clinically relevant concentration of 1 mM VPA induced the differentiation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-treated P1- and P14-SGN-NSCs into neuronal and glial cells, confirmed by neuronal marker (Tuj1 and MAP2) and glial cell marker (GFAP and S100β) detection. VPA-treated cells also promoted much longer neurite outgrowth compared to differentiated cells cultured without bFGF. The effects of VPA on the regulation of differentiation may be related to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, but not the inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs). We propose that VPA has the potential to convert SGN-NSCs into SGNs and thereby restore hearing when combined with a CI.
- OSTI ID:
- 23134260
- Journal Information:
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 503; ISSN 0006-291X; ISSN BBRCA9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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