A new innovative tool developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides scientists with a better understanding of how stem cells age in the brain. By harnessing the natural light emitted by biological samples, this tool enables researchers to explore the various states of stem cells in the nervous system, thereby improving their ability to study the aging process of these vital cells.
The technique developed by the UW–Madison team involves combining autofluorescence— the light emitted naturally by cells—with genetic material sequencing in individual cells to investigate the behavior of neural stem cells. While autofluorescence is typically viewed as a challenge due to its tendency to interfere with fluorescent labels used to track cellular signals, the researchers discovered that the distinctive signatures of autofluorescence could be utilized to examine the dormant state of stem cells, known as quiescence.
Published in the prestigious journal Cell Stem Cell, the study highlights the significance of the quiescent state, which plays a crucial role in the generation of new neurons in the adult brain. Understanding the mechanisms that control the exit from quiescence is essential, particularly in the context of aging and neurological diseases that impede this process. Therefore, studying adult neural stem cells in various states is paramount for advancing research in this field.
Professor Darcie Moore, the senior author of the study and a neuroscience expert at UW–Madison’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, emphasized the importance of creating a tool that can identify the different states of adult neural stem cells. Collaborating with Professor Melissa Skala, a biomedical engineering specialist also affiliated with the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, the team leveraged fluorescence lifetime imaging to analyze autofluorescent signatures in single cells.
During the transition from active to quiescent states, the levels of specific metabolic proteins in cells undergo changes, affecting how light is absorbed and emitted. By focusing on the light emitted by cell components that exhibit distinct alterations during quiescence, the researchers successfully identified a unique light signature corresponding to a specific cell state.
Sequencing RNA in mouse neural stem cells further validated the correlation between cell state and autofluorescent signatures. By deciphering these signatures, Moore and Skala have paved the way for enhanced research on adult neurological diseases and aging, with potential applications extending beyond neuroscience. Their collaboration with Professor Colin Crist from McGill University to investigate autofluorescent signatures in muscle stem cells underscores the broad utility of this novel tool.
The groundbreaking research not only introduced a novel diagnostic tool but also shed light on the intricate cellular processes differentiating quiescent and activated neural stem cells. This shift towards studying dynamic cellular systems based on functional attributes holds immense promise for advancing our understanding of cellular behavior over time while preserving cell integrity.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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