Prx1 + MPCs Accumulate in the Dura Mater of Wild-Type and p21 -/- Mice Followed by a Specific Reduction in p21 -/- Dural MPCs

• Published in: Advanced biology Vol. 6; no. 12; p. e2101304
• Main Authors: Shah, Sophia S, Salo, Paul T, Lyons, Frank G, Mitha, Alim P, Krawetz, Roman J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Dura Mater - pathology; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Wound Healing; epidural fat; lineage tracing; mesenchymal progenitor cells; p21; dura mater
• ISSN: 2701-0198
• DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101304

Epidural fat contains a population of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs), and this study explores the behavior of these cells on the adjacent dura mater during growth and in response to injury in a p21 knockout mouse model. p21 mice are known to have increased cell proliferation and enhanced tissue regeneration post-injury. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the process by which epidural fat MPCs maintain the dura mater can be accelerated in p21 mice. Using a Prx1 lineage tracing mouse model, the epidural fat MPCs are found to increase in the dura mater over time in both C57BL/6 (p21 ) and p21 mice; however, by 3 weeks post-tamoxifen induction, few MPCs are observed in p21 mice. These endogenous MPCs also localize to dural injuries in both mouse strains, with MPCs in p21 mice demonstrating increased proliferation. When epidural fat MPCs derived from p21 mice are transplanted into dural injuries in C57BL/6 mice, these MPCs are found in the injury site. It is demonstrated that epidural fat MPCs play a role in dural tissue maintenance and are able to directly contribute to dural injury repair. This suggests that these MPCs have the potential to treat injuries and/or pathologies in tissues surrounding the spinal cord.