Figure 1.

hNSC express IFNγ-RI and IFNγ-RII. In (A) representative photomicrographs of undifferentiated and differentiated hNSCs (Wicell h9 line) are given. To characterize the undifferentiated stage, proliferating cells under the influence of growth factors were seeded and then immediately PFA fixed for immunocytochemistry. To characterize the differentiated stage, cells were seeded and differentiated for four weeks with an initial stepwise reduction of growth factors. In the upper panel immunocytochemical stainings against the neural precursor markers nestin and Sox2 in undifferentiated hNSCs are given demonstrating that the pre-differentiation protocol which starts with pluripotent stem cells yields populations highly enriched in neural precursor cells. In the lower panel immunocytochemical stainings against βIII-tubulin and GFAP in differentiated hNSCs are given demonstrating the terminal differentiation of hNSCs into neurons and astrocytes. In (B) representative photomicrographs of undifferentiated hNSCs (Wicell h9 line) are given. A co-immunocytochemical staining against nestin and IFNγ-RI is given in the upper panel and against nestin and IFNγ-RII in the lower panel showing that both IFNγ receptor subunits are expressed in undifferentiated hNSCs. In (C) gene expression levels of IFNγ-RI and IFNγ-RII in undifferentiated hNSCs (Wicell h9 line) and mNSCs is shown.