Limited migration of neural stem cells in adult brain is a roadblock for the use of stem cell therapies to treat brain diseases and injuries. Here, we report a strategy that mobilizes and guides migration of stem cells in the brain in vivo. We developed a safe stimulation paradigm to deliver directional currents in the brain. Tracking cells expressing GFP demonstrated electrical mobilization and guidance of migration of human neural stem cells, even against co-existing intrinsic cues in the rostral migration stream. Transplanted cells were observed at 3 weeks and 4 months after stimulation in areas guided by the stimulation currents, and with indications of differentiation. Electrical stimulation thus may provide a potential approach to facilitate brain stem cell therapies.
Keywords: brain in vivo; directional cell migration; electric field; electric stimulation; electrotaxis; galvanotaxis; human neural stem cells; in vivo migration; neural stem cells; neuroblasts.
Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.