A research team, led by Dr Han Dong (third left) and Professor Liu Pengtao (second left), has discovered a previously unknown type of neural stem cell located outside the experimental mouse central nervous system, opening up transformative possibilities in regenerative medicine for treating neurological diseases and injuries.
In an unprecedented international study, researchers at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, have discovered a previously unknown type of neural stem cell located outside the experimental mouse central nervous system. It challenges the long-standing belief that 'neural stem cells are confined to the brain and spinal cord', opening up transformative possibilities in regenerative medicine for treating neurological diseases and injuries. The findings were published in Nature Cell Biology [link to publication], and included into 'A year of stem cell and developmental biology' collection in this past year by Nature.
For decades, scientists believed that mammalian neural stem cells—the self-renewing, multipotent cells that are essential for central nervous system development—existed only within the central nervous system. However, the study led by Dr Han Dong, Research Assistant Professor, and Professor Liu Pengtao, Professor and Director of the Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, both from the School of Biomedical Sciences, HKUMed, has identified peripheral neural stem cells (pNSCs) derived from mouse limb and lung tissues for the first time. These pNSCs exhibit properties similar to those of brain NSCs, including their ability to differentiate into various neural cell types.
'This finding fundamentally reshapes our understanding of the nervous system,' said Dr Han Dong. 'The discovery of pNSCs challenges the long-held belief. This expands our understanding of mammalian nervous system development and holds great promise for innovative therapies in regenerative medicine.'
The research team used genetic tracing techniques to show that pNSCs originate from neuroepithelial cells in the neural tube. During early embryonic development, these cells migrate to peripheral organs such as limbs and lungs. Remarkably, some of these cells remain in an undifferentiated stem cell state into adulthood and retain their ability to generate neural tissue.
In contrast to brain-derived neural stem cells, which are difficult to access and harvest, pNSCs can be obtained from more accessible tissues, including embryonic limbs, postnatal lungs, tails, dorsal root ganglia, and adult lungs. The study also showed that pNSCs can be expanded in laboratory conditions without forming teratomas after transplantation, making them a promising and scalable candidate for therapeutic applications.
'The implications of this discovery are far-reaching,' said Professor Liu. 'If similar cells exist in humans, they could become a game-changer in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic injuries.'
The research team is now investigating whether pNSCs exist in human tissues and exploring their potential for treating conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injuries, and stroke. If these cells exist in humans and can be propagated indefinitely, they could provide a groundbreaking resource for neural repair, circumventing many challenges associated with traditional stem cell sourcing.
About the research team
The study was led by Dr Han Dong, Research Assistant Professor, and Professor Liu Pengtao, Professor and Director of the Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, both from the School of Biomedical Sciences, HKUMed; and Professor Hans R Schöler, Emeritus Director of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine.
