Bi- and uniciliated ependymal cells define continuous floor-plate-derived tanycytic territories

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 13759
• Main Authors: Mirzadeh, Zaman, Kusne, Yael, Duran-Moreno, Maria, Cabrales, Elaine, Gil-Perotin, Sara, Ortiz, Christian, Chen, Bin, Garcia-Verdugo, Jose Manuel, Sanai, Nader, Alvarez-Buylla, Arturo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 09.01.2017; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 13/51; 14/1; 14/19; 14/28; 631/136/2432; 631/378/2571/2573; 631/378/2571/2578; 631/532/2182; 64/60; Aged; Animals; Biomarkers - metabolism; Brain Mapping; CD24 Antigen - genetics; CD24 Antigen - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Cell Tracking - methods; Cilia - metabolism; Cilia - ultrastructure; Ependyma - metabolism; Ependyma - ultrastructure; Ependymoglial Cells - metabolism; Ependymoglial Cells - ultrastructure; Female; Gene Expression; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - genetics; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - metabolism; Hedgehog Proteins - genetics; Hedgehog Proteins - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Nerve Net - metabolism; Nerve Net - ultrastructure; Nestin - genetics; Nestin - metabolism; Neurosciences; Protozoa; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit - genetics; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Vimentin - genetics; Vimentin - metabolism; United States > US; California
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13759

Multiciliated ependymal (E1) cells line the brain ventricles and are essential for brain homeostasis. We previously identified in the lateral ventricles a rare ependymal subpopulation (E2) with only two cilia and unique basal bodies. Here we show that E2 cells form a distinct biciliated epithelium extending along the ventral third into the fourth ventricle. In the third ventricle floor, apical profiles with only primary cilia define an additional uniciliated (E3) epithelium. E2 and E3 cells’ ultrastructure, marker expression and basal processes indicate that they correspond to subtypes of tanycytes. Using sonic hedgehog lineage tracing, we show that the third and fourth ventricle E2 and E3 epithelia originate from the anterior floor plate. E2 and E3 cells complete their differentiation 2–3 weeks after birth, suggesting a link to postnatal maturation. These data reveal discrete bands of E2 and E3 cells that may relay information from the CSF to underlying neural circuits along the ventral midline. Ependymal cells lining the adult brain ventricles are comprised of multiciliated cells and a rare subpopulation with two cilia (E2 cells) whose origin and function remain unknown. Here the authors find E2 cells in the 3rd ventricle of mice and humans, along with a third ependymal cell type with only a primary cilium, and provide details of their marker profile and developmental origins.