Bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote proliferation and neuronal differentiation of Niemann-Pick type C mouse neural stem cells by upregulation and secretion of CCL2.

Niemann-Pick type C (NP-C) disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized neuropathologically by ballooned neurons distended with lipid storage and widespread neuronal loss. Neural stem cells (NSC) derived from NP-C disease models have decreased ability for self-renewal and neuronal differentiation. Investigation of neurogenesis in the adult brain has suggested that NP-C disease can be overcome, or at least ameliorated, by the generation of new neurons. Bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are regarded as potential candidates for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders because of their ability to promote neurogenesis. The underlying mechanisms of BM-MSC-induced promotion of neurogenesis, however, have not been resolved. The aim of the present study was to examine the mechanism of neurogenesis by BM-MSCs in NP-C disease. Coculture of embryonic NSCs from NP-C mice that exhibit impaired ability for self-renewal and decreased rates of neuronal differentiation with BM-MSCs resulted in an enhanced capacity for self-renewal and an increased ability for differentiation into neurons or oligodendrocytes. In addition, results of in vivo studies have demonstrated that transplantation of intracerebral BM-MSCs resulted in stimulated proliferation and neuronal differentiation of NSCs within the subventricular zone. Of particular interest, enhanced proliferation and neuronal differentiation of endogenous NP-C mouse NSCs showed an association with elevated release of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) from BM-MSCs. These effects suggest that soluble CCL2 derived from BM-MSCs can modulate endogenous NP-C NSCs, resulting in their improved proliferation and neuronal differentiation in mice.