{"title":"ID(ealizing) control of adult subventricular zone neural stem/precursor cell differentiation for CNS regeneration","authors":"C. Bohrer, C. Schachtrup","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2016.1223532","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2016.1223532","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The adult central nervous system (CNS) was considered a comparatively static tissue with little cell turnover. It is now well established that there is more plasticity than previously thought and that astrocytes act as neural stem/precursor cells (NSPCs) in the subventricular zone (SVZ). The discovery that these NSPCs can give rise to a limited number of new neurons, reactive astrocytes and oligodendrocytes contributing to brain repair in CNS disease, has raised hopes toward harnessing these cells for therapeutic interventions. Here, we will discuss the transcriptional control of adult NSPC differentiation into astrocytes in CNS disease focusing on the helix-loop-helix transcription factor protein family. In our recent study, we reported that elevated BMP-2 levels are translated into an increase in Id3 expression in adult NSPC subpopulations after cortical injury. Id3 then heterodimerizes with the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor E47 and releases the E47‐mediated repression of astrocyte‐specific gene expression. Consequently, adult NSPCs preferentially differentiate into astrocytes. We believe that understanding the in vivo differentiation potential and the molecular underpinnings of NSPCs in the adult mammalian brain will help us to evaluate their contributions to brain repair and may lead to new concepts in treating human CNS diseases.","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2016.1223532","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59994155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Subventricular zone–associated glioblastoma: A call for translational research to guide clinical decision making","authors":"Andrew W. Smith, B. Parashar, A. Wernicke","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2016.1225548","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2016.1225548","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Glioblastoma (GBM) is both the most common and the most devastating primary cancer of the central nervous system, with an expected overall survival in most patients of about 14 months. Despite extensive research, outcomes for GBM have been largely unchanged since the introduction of temozolomide in 2005. We believe that in order to achieve a breakthrough in therapeutic management, we must begin to identify subtypes of GBM, and tailor treatment to best target a particular tumor's vulnerabilities. Our group has recently produced an examination of the clinical outcomes of radiation therapy directed at tumors that contact the subventricular zone (SVZ), the 3–5 mm lateral border of the lateral ventricles that contains the largest collection of neural stem cells in the adult brain. We find that SVZ-associated tumors have worse progression free and overall survival than tumors that do not contact the SVZ, and that they exhibit unique recurrence and migration patterns. However, with minimal basic science research into SVZ-associated GBM, it is currently impossible to determine if the clinicobehavioral uniqueness of this group of tumors represents a true disease subtype from a genetic perspective. We believe that further translational research into SVZ-associated GBM is needed to establish a therapeutic profile.","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2016.1225548","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59994209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) activation: A key determinant of neuropathogeny during congenital infection by cytomegalovirus","authors":"S. Chavanas","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2016.1231654","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2016.1231654","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Congenital infection by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) might result in permanent neurological sequelae, including sensorineural deafness, cerebral palsies or devastating neurodevelopmental abnormalities. We recently disclosed that Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ), a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key determinant of HCMV pathogenesis in developing brain. Using neural stem cells from human embryonic stem cells, we showed that HCMV infection strongly increases levels and activity of PPARγ in NSCs. Further in vitro experiments showed that PPARγ activity inhibits the neuronogenic differentiation of NSCs into neurons. Consistently, increased PPARγ expression was found in brain section of fetuses infected by HCMV, but not in uninfected controls. In this commentary, we summarize and discuss our findings and the new insights they provide on the neuropathogenesis of HCMV congenital infection.","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2016.1231654","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59994944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Gazea, Evangelia Tasouri, T. Heigl, V. Bosch, K. L. Tucker, S. Blaess
{"title":"Definition of a critical spatiotemporal window within which primary cilia control midbrain dopaminergic neurogenesis","authors":"M. Gazea, Evangelia Tasouri, T. Heigl, V. Bosch, K. L. Tucker, S. Blaess","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2016.1248206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2016.1248206","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons are generated in the ventral midbrain floor plate depending on Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling for induction. Primary cilia transduce canonical SHH signals. Loss of intraflagellar transport protein IFT88, essential for ciliary function, disrupts SHH signaling in the ventral midbrain and results in the reduction in mDA progenitors and neurons. We investigate whether conditional inactivation of the kinesin motor protein KIF3A recapitulates phenotypes observed in conditional Ift88 mutants. Conditional Kif3a inactivation reduced the mDA progenitor domain size, but did not result in mDA neuron reduction, most likely because of a delayed loss of cilia and delayed inactivation of SHH signaling. We thereby define a precise spatiotemporal window within which primary cilia-dependent SHH signaling determines mDA fate.","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2016.1248206","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59994678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)Pub Date : 2015-12-15eCollection Date: 2015-01-01DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2015.1122699
Joshua Shing Shun Li, Grace Ji-Eun Shin, S Sean Millard
{"title":"Neuronal cell-type-specific alternative splicing: A mechanism for specifying connections in the brain?","authors":"Joshua Shing Shun Li, Grace Ji-Eun Shin, S Sean Millard","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2015.1122699","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2015.1122699","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alternative splicing (AS) allows a single gene to generate multiple protein isoforms. It has been hypothesized that AS plays a role in brain wiring by increasing the number of cell recognition molecules necessary for forming connections between neurons. Many studies have characterized isoform expression patterns of various genes in the brain, but very few have addressed whether specific isoforms play a functional role in neuronal wiring. In our recent work, we reported the cell-type-specific AS of the cell recognition molecule Dscam2. Exclusive expression of Dscam2 isoforms allows tightly associated neurons to signal repulsion selectively within the same cell-types, without interfering with one another. We show that preventing cell-specific isoform expression in 2 closely associated neurons disrupts their axon terminal morphology. We propose that the requirement for isoform specificity extends to synapses and discuss experiments that can test this directly. Factors that regulate Dscam2 cell-type-specific AS likely regulate the splicing of many genes involved in neurodevelopment. These regulators of alternative splicing may act broadly to control many genes involved in the development of specific neuron types. Identifying these factors is a key step in understanding how AS contributes to the brain connectome. </p>","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2015.1122699","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34372936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)Pub Date : 2015-12-15eCollection Date: 2015-01-01DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2015.1100227
Marija Fjodorova, Zoe Noakes, Meng Li
{"title":"How to make striatal projection neurons.","authors":"Marija Fjodorova, Zoe Noakes, Meng Li","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2015.1100227","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2015.1100227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) are the main projection neurons of the striatum and are preferentially lost in Huntington's disease (HD). With no current cure for this neurodegenerative disorder, the specificity of neuronal loss in the striatum makes cell transplantation therapy an attractive avenue for its treatment. Also, given that MSNs are particularly vulnerable in HD, it is necessary to understand why these neurons degenerate in order to develop new therapeutic options. Both approaches require access to human MSN progenitors and their mature neuronal derivatives. Human embryonic stem cells and HD patient induced pluripotent stem cells (together referred to as hPSCs) may serve as an unlimited source of such tissue if they can be directed toward authentic striatal neuronal lineage. Understanding the MSN differentiation pathway in the brain is therefore of paramount importance for the generation of accurate protocols to obtain striatal cells in vitro. The focus of this mini review will be on striatal development and current methods to generate MSNs from hPSCs. </p>","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2015.1100227","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34372935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)Pub Date : 2015-12-15eCollection Date: 2015-01-01DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2015.1125409
Pierre Mattar, Michel Cayouette
{"title":"Mechanisms of temporal identity regulation in mouse retinal progenitor cells.","authors":"Pierre Mattar, Michel Cayouette","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2015.1125409","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2015.1125409","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While much progress has been made in recent years toward elucidating the transcription factor codes controlling how neural progenitor cells generate the various glial and neuronal cell types in a particular spatial domain, much less is known about how these progenitors alter their output over time. In the past years, work in the developing mouse retina has provided evidence that a transcriptional cascade similar to the one used in Drosophila neuroblasts might control progenitor temporal identity in vertebrates. The zinc finger transcription factor Ikzf1 (Ikaros), an ortholog of Drosophila hunchback, was reported to confer early temporal identity in retinal progenitors and, more recently, the ortholog of Drosophila castor, Casz1, was found to function as a mid/late temporal identity factor that is negatively regulated by Ikzf1. The molecular mechanisms by which these temporal identity factors function in retinal progenitors, however, remain unknown. Here we briefly review previous work on the vertebrate temporal identity factors in the retina, and propose a model by which they might operate. </p>","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2015.1125409","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34372938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)Pub Date : 2015-12-03eCollection Date: 2015-01-01DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2015.1122700
Melissa A Kotterman, David V Schaffer
{"title":"Engineered AAV vectors for improved central nervous system gene delivery.","authors":"Melissa A Kotterman, David V Schaffer","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2015.1122700","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2015.1122700","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are non-pathogenic members of the Parvoviridae family that are being harnessed as delivery vehicles for both basic research and increasingly successful clinical gene therapy. To address a number of delivery shortcomings with natural AAV variants, we have developed and implemented directed evolution-a high-throughput molecular engineering approach to generate novel biomolecules with enhanced function-to create novel AAV vectors that are designed to preferentially transduce specific cell types in the central nervous system (CNS), including astrocytes, neural stem cells, and cells within the retina. These novel AAV vectors-which have enhanced infectivity in vitro and enhanced infectivity and selectivity in vivo-can enable more efficient studies to further our understanding of neurogenesis, development, aging, and disease. Furthermore, such engineered vectors may aid gene or cell replacement therapies to treat neurodegenerative disease or injury. </p>","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2015.1122700","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34372937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)Pub Date : 2015-11-25eCollection Date: 2015-01-01DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2015.1081714
Taito Matsuda, Kinichi Nakashima
{"title":"Bidirectional communication between the innate immune and nervous systems for homeostatic neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus.","authors":"Taito Matsuda, Kinichi Nakashima","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2015.1081714","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2015.1081714","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A population of proliferating neural stem/progenitor cells located in the subgranular zone of the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) gives rise to new neurons continuously throughout life, and this process is referred to as adult hippocampal neurogenesis. To date, it has generally been accepted that impairments of adult hippocampal neurogenesis resulting from pathological conditions such as stress, ischemia and epilepsy lead to deficits in hippocampus-dependent learning and memory tasks. Recently, we have discovered that microglia, the major immune cells in the brain, attenuate seizure-induced aberrant hippocampal neurogenesis to withstand cognitive decline and recurrent seizure. In that study, we further showed that Toll-like receptor 9, known as a pathogen-sensing receptor for innate immune system activation, recognizes self-DNA derived from degenerating neurons to induce TNF-α production in the microglia after seizure, resulting in inhibition of seizure-induced aberrant neurogenesis. Our findings provide new evidence that interaction between the innate immune and nervous systems ensures homeostatic neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus and should pave the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases including epilepsy. </p>","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2015.1081714","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34369738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)Pub Date : 2015-11-13eCollection Date: 2015-01-01DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2015.1058684
Joseph M Bateman
{"title":"Mechanistic insights into the role of mTOR signaling in neuronal differentiation.","authors":"Joseph M Bateman","doi":"10.1080/23262133.2015.1058684","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2015.1058684","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Temporal control of neuronal differentiation is critical to produce a complete and fully functional nervous system. Loss of the precise temporal control of neuronal cell fate can lead to defects in cognitive development and to disorders such as epilepsy and autism. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a large serine/threonine kinase that acts as a crucial sensor of cellular homeostasis. mTOR signaling has recently emerged as a key regulator of neurogenesis. However, the mechanism by which mTOR regulates neurogenesis is poorly understood. In constrast to other functions of the pathway, 'neurogenic mTOR pathway factors' have not previously been identified. We have very recently used Drosophila as a model system to identify the gene unkempt as the first component of the mTOR pathway regulating neuronal differentiation. Our study demonstrates that specific adaptor proteins exist that channel mTOR signaling toward the regulation of neuronal cell fate. In this Commentary we discuss the role of mTOR signaling in neurogenesis and the significance of these findings in advancing our understanding of the mechanism by which mTOR signaling controls neuronal differentiation. </p>","PeriodicalId":74274,"journal":{"name":"Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.)","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23262133.2015.1058684","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34369748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}