Revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying neural stem cell self-renewal is a major goal toward understanding adult brain homeostasis. The self-renewing potential of neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) must be tightly regulated to maintain brain homeostasis. We recently reported the expression of Protein S (PROS1) in adult hippocampal NSPCs, and revealed its role in regulation of NSPC q...

Two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) spectroscopy and imaging were used to investigate the effects of gamma-irradiation on neural stem and precursor cells (NSPCs). While the observed signal from reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was localized to the mitochondria, the signal typically associated with oxidized flavoproteins (Fp) was distributed diffusely throughout the cell. The ...

One of the challenges in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders with biomolecules is achieving local delivery while minimizing invasiveness. For the treatment of stroke, stimulation of endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) by growth factors is a promising strategy for tissue regeneration. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhances proliferation of endogenous NSPCs in the subventr...

In adult mammals, neural stem cells (NSCs) generate new neurons that are important for specific types of learning and memory. Controlling adult NSC number and function is fundamental for preserving the stem cell pool and ensuring proper levels of neurogenesis throughout life. Here we study the importance of the microRNA gene cluster miR-106b~25 (miR-106b, miR-93, and miR-25) in primary cultures...

Neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) are heterogeneous populations of self-renewing stem cells and more committed progenitors that differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Accurately identifying and characterizing the different progenitor cells in this lineage has continued to be a challenge for the field. We found previously that populations of NSPCs with more neurogen...

Adult stem cells reside in unique niches that provide vital cues for their survival, self-renewal and differentiation. In order to better understand the contribution of substrate stiffness to neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) differentiation and proliferation, a photopolymerizable methacrylamide chitosan (MAC) biomaterial was developed. Photopolymerizable MAC is particularly compelling for the...

The adult central nervous system (CNS) contains adult neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) that possess the ability to differentiate into the primary cell types found in the CNS and to regenerate lost or damaged tissue. The ability to specifically and spatially control differentiation is vital to enable cell-based CNS regenerative strategies. Here we describe the development of a protein-biomat...

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is among the most common growth factors used in cultures to maintain self-renewal and proliferative capabilities of a variety of stem cells, including neural stem cells (NSCs). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the control by FGF have remained elusive. Studies on mutant mice of FGF receptor substrate 2α (FRS2α), a central mediator for FGF signaling, com...

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(waf1/cip) mediates the p53-dependent G1/S checkpoint, which is generally considered to be a critical requirement to maintain genomic stability after DNA damage. We used staggered 5-ethynyl-2'deoxyuridine/5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine double-labeling in vivo to investigate the cell cycle progression and the role of p21(waf1/cip) in the DNA damage response of n...

Growth factors play an important role in regulating neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. This study shows that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induces a partial differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in the absence of other mitogens in vitro. NSPCs thus acquire an immature morphology and display markers for both neurons and glia. In addition, these cells do...