HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data All Versions of this Article: 2007-0513v1 26/5/1221    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jiao, J. Articles by Chen, D. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jiao, J. Articles by Chen, D. F.

THE STEM CELL NICHE

Induction of Neurogenesis in Nonconventional Neurogenic Regions of the Adult Central Nervous System by Niche Astrocyte-Produced Signals

Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Key Words. Adult stem cell • Neural stem cell • Astrocytes • Stem cell-microenvironment interactions

Correspondence: Correspondence: Dong Feng Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. Telephone: 617-912-7490; Fax: 617-912-0101; e-mail: dongfeng.chen{at}schepens.harvard.edu

Received on July 2, 2007; accepted for publication on February 26, 2008.

First published online in STEM CELLS EXPRESS  March 6, 2008.


The central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals regenerates poorly; in vivo, neurogenesis occurs only in two restricted areas, the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) and the subventricular zone (SVZ). Neurogenic potential depends on both the intrinsic properties of neural progenitors and the environment, or niche, in which progenitor cells reside. Isolation of multipotent progenitor cells from broad CNS regions suggests that the neurogenic potential of the adult CNS is dictated by local environmental cues. Here, we report that astrocytes in the neurogenic brain regions, the SGZ and SVZ, of adult mice release molecular signals, such as sonic hedgehog (Shh), that stimulate adult neural progenitors to reenter the cell cycle and generate new neurons in vitro and in vivo. Transplantation of SGZ astrocytes or application of Shh caused de novo neurogenesis from the non-neurogenic neocortex of adult mice. These findings identify a molecular target that can activate the dormant neurogenic potential from nonconventional neurogenic regions of the adult CNS and suggest a novel mechanism of neural replacement therapy for treating neurodegenerative disease and injury without transplanting exogenous cells.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Alonso, I. Ortega-Perez, M. S. Grubb, J.-P. Bourgeois, P. Charneau, and P.-M. Lledo Turning Astrocytes from the Rostral Migratory Stream into Neurons: A Role for the Olfactory Sensory Organ J. Neurosci., October 22, 2008; 28(43): 11089 - 11102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F.-J. Obermair, A. Schroter, and M. Thallmair Endogenous Neural Progenitor Cells as Therapeutic Target After Spinal Cord Injury Physiology, October 1, 2008; 23(5): 296 - 304. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-w. Jiao, D. A. Feldheim, and D. F. Chen Ephrins as negative regulators of adult neurogenesis in diverse regions of the central nervous system PNAS, June 24, 2008; 105(25): 8778 - 8783. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]