CELLULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF BALLOON CELLS IN HUMAN CORTICAL DYSPLASIAS
Abstract number :
3.043
Submission category :
Year :
2002
Submission ID :
1321
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2002, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Zhong Ying, Imad M. Najm, Shinichi Watanabe, Anna Leichliter, Attaporn Boongird, Alicia Paulson, William Bingaman. Neurology, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Pathology, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Neurosurgery, The Cleveland Clinic, Clevelan
RATIONALE: Focal cortical dysplasias (CDs) are frequent causes of medically intractable epilepsy. CDs are typically characterized by the presence of dysmorphic neurons and balloon cells in the setting of neocortical architectural disorganization. The cellular characteristics and role of balloon cells (BCs) in focal CDs remain unknown.
METHODS: Neocortical tissue resected from 3 patients who underwent focal cortical resection for the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy was used in this study. Neocortical areas containing BCs were identified using cresylecht violet Nissl staining. Single and double labeling immunocytochemical staining using various neuronal (Neuronal nuclear; NeuN, and microtubule associated protein; MAP, and TUJ1) and glial (Glial fibrillary astrocyte protein; GFAP, and vimentin) antibodies together with antibodies against stem cells specific proteins: nestin and CD 131. The immunocytochemical staining patterns of balloon cells were visually studied.
RESULTS: Balloon cells were mainly found in the deeper layers of the neocortex and the subjacent white matter. BCs stained positive for mature and immature neuronal markers: TUJ1 and NeuN/MAP respectively and both mature and immature glial cells: GFAP and Vimentin respectively. BCs in the deeper parts of the resected cortex stained positive for Nestin and CD131.
CONCLUSIONS: Balloon cells are a heterogeneous population of cells that show neuronal or glial characteristics in the setting of severe CD in patients with medically resistant focal epilepsy. Moreover, BCs show protein characteristics of immature neurons and glial cells and exhibit features of stem/progenitor cells. These results suggest that BCs may have a potential for cell division in a postnatal brain.
[Supported by: NIH grant to Imad Najm]