Astrocytes Control Generation Of New Neurons From Neural Stem Cells

New research has shown how astrocytes control the generation of new neurons in the brain. Earlier research in the same laboratory demonstrated that astrocytes reduce brain tissue damage after stroke and that the integration of transplanted neural stem cells can be largely improved by modulating the activity of astrocytes.

“In the brain, astrocytes control how many new neurons are formed from neural stem cells and survive to integrate into the existing neuronal networks, said Milos Pekny, Professor and Laboratory Director, Center for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Gothenburg. "Astrocytes do this by secreting specific molecules but also by much less understood direct cell-cell interactions with stem cells.”

“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.”

“We are starting to understand some of the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the control of neurogenesis," added Dr. Pekny. "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”

Selected Stem Cell Digest Neural Stem Cell Posts:

August 12, 2012 - New Neural Stem Cell Population

June 25, 2012 - Blood Brain Barrier Building Blocks

June 8, 2012 - Neural Stem Cells Induced From Transfer Of Single Gene

Adapted from the University of Gothenburg announcement.