Neurospheres from human adipose tissue transplanted into cultured mouse embryos can contribute to craniofacial morphogenesis: a preliminary report.

Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are one of the most promising stem cell populations that differentiate into the mesodermal as well as neural lineages in vitro. In this study, we examined the neural differentiating potential of human ASCs by a neurosphere culture method. Neurospheres derived from human ASCs expressed Nestin and Musashi-1 genes, which are marker genes for neural stem cells. When these cells were labeled with green fluorescent protein gene transfection by Sendai virus vector and transplanted into the head region of mouse embryos using a whole embryo culture system, these cells were incorporated into the craniofacial development. Some transplanted cells appeared to migrate along the second branchial arches, implicating some similarity to the cranial neural crest cells. Although preliminary, our results support an idea that ASC-derived neurospheres have properties of neural progenitors in vitro and in vivo.