Regulation of neural markers nestin and GFAP expression by cultivated bone marrow stromal cells
Authors: B Rogister
S Wislet-Gendebien
P Leprince
G Moonen
Journal: Journal of Cell Science (2003)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Bone marrow stromal cells; mesenchymal cells; neural cells; regenerative medicine; nestin
Affiliations: Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Liège, 17 Place Delcour, B-4020 Liège, Belgium. , Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Liège, 17 Place Delcour, B-4020 Liège, Belgium, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, C.H.U. (B35) Sart Tilman,B-4000 Liège, Belgium

Abstract:  Bone marrow stromal cells can differentiate into many types of mesenchymal cells, i.e. osteocyte, chondrocyte and adipocyte, but can also differentiate into non-mesenchymal cells, i.e. neural cells under appropriate in vivo experimental conditions (Kopen et al., 1999; Brazelton et al., 2000; Mezey et al., 2000). This neural phenotypic plasticity allows us to consider the utilization of mesenchymal stem cells as cellular material in regenerative medicine. In this study, we demonstrate that cultured adult rat stromal cells can express nestin, an intermediate filament protein predominantly expressed by neural stem cells. Two factors contribute to the regulation of nestin expression by rat stromal cells: serum in the culture medium inhibits nestin expression and a threshold number of passages must be reached below which nestin expression does not occur. Only nestin-positive rat stromal cells are able to form spheres when they are placed in the culture conditions used for neural stem cells. Likewise, only nestin-positive stromal cells are able to differentiate into GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein)-positive cells when they are co-cultivated with neural stem cells. We thus demonstrated that adult rat stromal cells in culture express nestin in absence of serum after passaging the cells at least ten times, and we suggest that nestin expression by these cells might be a prerequisite for the acquisition of the capacity to progress towards the neural lineage. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
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 I agree with Candida Guaymorum s remarks in #1 and #2. The same band appears to be visible two times in the same blot in Figure 2F, and the same cell appears to be visible four times in the same photo in Figure 2E. Could the authors please provide the original blot and photos? In addition, the flow cytometry plots of Figure 1A (CD11b) and Figure 1B (CD45) appear to look very similar. ![file] , 
 2021 retraction. https: jcs.biologists.org content 134 2 jcs258324 The authors are retracting J. Cell Sci. (2003) 116, 3295-3302 (doi:10.1242 jcs.00639). Allegations of image manipulation were made for Fig.1A and Fig. 2E,F on PubPeer. As the data were obtained for these figures 20 years ago, the authors no longer have all of the original images and blots. A cropped blot was found for data shown in Fig. 2E, but the resolution was poor and no definitive conclusion on any band duplication could be made. The authors have no explanation for how these issues could have arisen and say that although these issues do not modify the scientific message, they are retracting the paper. They apologise to readers for any inconvenience. , 
 3 retractions. http: retractiondatabase.org RetractionSearch.aspx#?auth%3dWislet-Gendebien%252c%2bSabine ,