Nestin- and Doublecortin-Positive Cells Reside in Adult Spinal CordMeninges and Participate in Injury-Induced Parenchymal Reaction

Adult spinal cord has little regenerative potential, thuslimiting patient recovery following injury. In this study, wedescribe a new population of cells resident in the adult ratspinal cord meninges that express the neural stem/precursormarkers nestin and doublecortin. Furthermore, from dissociatedmeningeal tissue a neural stem cell population was culturedin vitro and subsequently shown to differentiate intofunctional neurons or mature oligodendrocytes. Proliferationrate and number of nestin- and doublecortin-positive cellsincreased in vivo in meninges following spinal cord injury.By using a lentivirus-labeling approach, we show that meningealcells, including nestin- and doublecortin-positive cells,migrate in the spinal cord parenchyma and contribute to theglial scar formation. Our data emphasize the multiple rolesof meninges in the reaction of the parenchyma to traumaand indicate for the first time that spinal cord meninges arepotential niches harboring stem/precursor cells that can beactivated by injury. Meninges may be considered as a newsource of adult stem/precursor cells to be further tested foruse in regenerative medicine applied to neurological disorders,including repair from spinal cord injury.