Human Neural Stem Cells Genetically Modified to Overexpress Akt1 Provide Neuroprotection and Functional Improvement in Mouse Stroke Model - Genetic Engineering: Recent Developments in Applications - page 301

Survival of Transplanted F3 and F3.Akt1 hNSCs in ICH Brain
Identification of grafted F3.Akt1 hNSCs in ICH brain was determined by im-
munostaining with hNuMA (Figure 5). Total numbers of hNuMA-positive F3
and F3.Akt1 hNSCs in the ICH brain sections were carried out using stereologi-
cal estimation at 2- and 8-weeks post-transplantation (PT). Cell survival rate of
F3.Akt1 hNSCs at 2-weeks PT is 107,770±2040 cells (54% of the initial popula-
tion of 200,000 cells) and at 8 weeks PT the number is 64,890±1940 cells (33%
of the initial population), while in control parental F3 hNSCs cell survival at 2
weeks PT is 78,320±1250 cells (39% of the initial population of 200,000 cells)
and 32,540±4920 cells (16% of the initial population of 200,000 cells) at 8-weeks
(p<0.05) (Figure 5). These results indicate that Akt1 overexpression in hNSCs
resulted in a 40% increase in cell survival of transplanted hNSCs at 2 weeks PT
and 100% increase at 8 weeks PT. In addition, F3.Akt1 human NSCs grafted in
cortex overlying striatum were found to migrate extensively to hippocampus 8
weeks PT (Figure 6) indicating that F3.Akt1 hNSCs are capable of migrating to
distant anatomical site.
Figure 5. At 2 weeks post-transplantation (PT) in the hemorrhage core border areas, difference in number of
human nuclear matrix antigen (hNuMA)-positive cells between ICH-F3 control group (A) and ICH-F3.Akt1
group (C) is not apparent, but at 8 weeks PT number of hNuMA-positive cells is much higher in F3.Akt1-ICH
group (D) as compared to control F3-ICH group (B). Bar indicates 100 µm. E: Percentage of hNuMA-positive
cells found in hemorrhage core border area is higher in ICH-F3.Akt1 group as compared to ICH-F3 group at
both 2 and 8 weeks post-transplantation.