Astrocytes Control the Generation of New Neurons from Neural Stem Cells
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Astrocytes are cells that have many functions in the central nervous system, such as the control of neuronal synapses, blood flow, or the brain's response to neurotrauma or stroke.
Reduces brain tissue damage
This
is Milos Pekny. Credit: University of Gothenburg. |
Generation of new neurons
In their current study, the Sahlgrenska Academy researchers show how astrocytes control the generation of new neurons in the brain. An important contribution to this project came from Cecilia Sahlgrens research group at Åbo Academy in Finland, one of Sahlgrenska's traditional collaborative partners.
"In the brain, astrocytes control how many new neurons are formed from neural stem cells and survive to integrate into the existing neuronal networks. Astrocytes do this by secreting specific molecules but also by much less understood direct cell-cell interactions with stem cells", says Prof. Milos Pekny.
Important regulator
"Astrocytes are in physical contact with neural stem cells and we have shown that they signal through the Notch pathway to stem cells to keep the birth rate of new neurons low. We have also shown that the intermediate filament system of astrocytes is an important regulator of this process. It seems that astrocyte intermediate filaments can be used as a target to increase the birthrate of new neurons."
Target for future therapies
"We are starting to understand some of the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the control of neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is one of the components of brain plasticity, which plays a role in the learning process as well as in the recovery after brain injury or stroke. This work helps us to understand how plasticity and regenerative response can be therapeutically promoted in the future", says Prof. Milos Pekny.
Source: University of Gothenburg
Contact: Milos Pekny
Reference:
Astrocytes Negatively Regulate Neurogenesis through the Jagged1-Mediated Notch Pathway
Ulrika Wilhelmsson, Maryam Faiz, Yolanda de Pablo, Marika Sjöqvist, Daniel Andersson, Åsa Widestrand, Maja Potokar, Matjaž Stenovec, Peter L. P. Smith, Noriko Shinjyo, Tulen Pekny, Robert Zorec, Anders Ståhlberg, Marcela Pekna, Cecilia Sahlgren and Milos Pekny
Stem Cells, DOI: 10.1002/stem.1196
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