Complementation of dopaminergic signaling by Pitx3–GDNF synergy induces dopamine secretion by multipotent Ntera2 cells

Human teratocarcinoma cell line Ntera2 (NT2) expresses dopamine signals and has shown its safe profile for clinical applications. Attempts to restore complete dopaminergic (DAergic) phenotype enabling these cells to secrete dopamine have not been fully successful so far. We applied a blend of gene transfer techniques and a defined medium to convert NT2 cells to fully DAergic. The cells were primarily engineered to overexpress the Pitx3 gene product and then cultured in a growth medium supplemented with knockout serum and retinoic acid to form embroid bodies (EBs). Trypsinization of EB colonies produced single cells ready for differentiation. Neuronal/DAergic induction was promoted by applying conditioned medium taken from engineered human astrocytomas over‐secreting glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Immunocytochemistry, reverse‐transcription and real‐time polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed significantly induced expression of molecules involved in dopamine signaling and metabolism including tyrosine hydroxylase, Nurr1, dopamine transporter, and aromatic acid decarboxylase. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated release of dopamine only from a class of fully differentiated cells expressing Pitx3 and exposed to GDNF. In addition, Pitx3 and GDNF additively promoted in vitro neuroprotection against Parkinsonian toxin. One month after transplantation to the striatum of 6‐OHDA‐leasioned rats, differentiated NT2 cells survived and induced significant increase in striatal volume. Besides, cell implantation improved motor coordination in Parkinson's disease (PD) rat models. Our findings highlight the importance of Pitx3–GDNF interplay in dopamine signaling and indicate that our strategy might be useful for the restoration of DAergic fate of NT2 cells to make them clinically applicable toward cell replacement therapy of PD. Our findings highlight the importance of Pitx3–glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) interplay in dopamine signaling and indicate that our strategy might be useful for restoration of dopaminergic (DAergic) fate of Ntera2 (NT2) cells to make them clinically applicable toward cell replacement therapy of Parkinson's disease (PD).