Spatio-Temporal Recruitment of Adult Neural Stem Cells for Transient Neurogenesis During Pregnancy

Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult mouse brain contribute to lifelong brain plasticity. NSCs in the adult ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) are heterogeneous and, depending on their location in the niche, give rise to different subtypes of olfactory bulb interneurons. Here, we show that during pregnancy multiple regionally-distinct NSCs are dynamically recruited at different times. Coordinated temporal activation of these NSC pools generates sequential waves of short-lived olfactory bulb interneuron subtypes that mature in the mother around birth and in the perinatal care period. Concomitant with neuronal addition, oligodendrocyte progenitors also transiently increase in the olfactory bulb. Thus, life experiences, such as pregnancy, can trigger transient neurogenesis and gliogenesis under tight spatial and temporal control, and may provide a novel substrate for brain plasticity in anticipation of temporary physiological demand

miR-17∼92 exerts stage-specific effects in adult V-SVZ neural stem cell lineages

Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) generate neurons and glia throughout life. MicroRNAs are important post-transcriptional regulators frequently acting in a context-dependent manner. Here, microRNA profiling defines cohorts of miRNAs in quiescent and activated NSCs, with miR-17∼92 highly upregulated in activated NSCs and transit amplifying cells (TACs) versus quiescent NSCs. Conditional miR-17∼92 deletion in the adult V-SVZ results in stage-specific effects. In NSCs, it reduces proliferation in vitro and in vivo, whereas in TACs, it selectively shifts neurogenic OLIG2; -; DLX2; +; toward oligodendrogenic OLIG2; +; DLX2; -; TACs, due to de-repression of an oligodendrogenic program, leading to increased oligodendrogenesis in vivo. This differential regulation of TAC subpopulations highlights the importance of TAC heterogeneity. Finally, in the NSC lineage for intraventricular oligodendrocyte progenitors, miR-17∼92 deletion decreases proliferation and maturation. Together, these findings reveal multiple stage-specific functions of the miR-17∼92 cluster within different adult V-SVZ lineages

The Subventricular Zone En-face: Wholemount Staining and Ependymal Flow

The walls of the lateral ventricles contain the largest germinal region in the adult mammalian brain. The subventricular zone (SVZ) in these walls is an extensively studied model system for understanding the behavior of neural stem cells and the regulation of adult neurogenesis. Traditionally, these studies have relied on classical sectioning techniques for histological analysis. Here we present an alternative approach, the wholemount technique, which provides a comprehensive, en-face view of this germinal region. Compared to sections, wholemounts preserve the complete cytoarchitecture and cellular relationships within the SVZ. This approach has recently revealed that the adult neural stem cells, or type B1 cells, are part of a mixed neuroepithelium with differentiated ependymal cells lining the lateral ventricles. In addition, this approach has been used to study the planar polarization of ependymal cells and the cerebrospinal fluid flow they generate in the ventricle. With recent evidence that adult neural stem cells are a heterogeneous population that is regionally specified, the wholemount approach will likely be an essential tool for understanding the organization and parcellation of this stem cell niche

Molecular anatomy and functions of the choroidal blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier in health and disease.

The barrier between the blood and the ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is located at the choroid plexuses. At the interface between two circulating fluids, these richly vascularized veil-like structures display a peculiar morphology explained by their developmental origin, and fulfill several functions essential for CNS homeostasis. They form a neuroprotective barrier preventing the accumulation of noxious compounds into the CSF and brain, and secrete CSF, which participates in the maintenance of a stable CNS internal environment. The CSF circulation plays an important role in volume transmission within the developing and adult brain, and CSF compartments are key to the immune surveillance of the CNS. In these contexts, the choroid plexuses are an important source of biologically active molecules involved in brain development, stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and brain repair. By sensing both physiological changes in brain homeostasis and peripheral or central insults such as inflammation, they also act as sentinels for the CNS. Finally, their role in the control of immune cell traffic between the blood and the CSF confers on the choroid plexuses a function in neuroimmune regulation and implicates them in neuroinflammation. The choroid plexuses, therefore, deserve more attention while investigating the pathophysiology of CNS diseases and related comorbidities

Stem Cells in the Nervous System

Given their capacity to regenerate cells lost through injury or disease, stem cells offer new vistas into possible treatments for degenerative diseases and their underlying causes. As such, stem cell biology is emerging as a driving force behind many studies in regenerative medicine. This review focuses on the current understanding of the applications of stem cells in treating ailments of the human brain, with an emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases. Two types of neural stem cells are discussed: endogenous neural stem cells residing within the adult brain and pluripotent stem cells capable of forming neural cells in culture. Endogenous neural stem cells give rise to neurons throughout life, but they are restricted to specialized regions in the brain. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms regulating these cells is key in determining their therapeutic potential as well as finding mechanisms to activate dormant stem cells outside these specialized microdomains. In parallel, patient-derived stem cells can be used to generate neural cells in culture, providing new tools for disease modeling, drug testing, and cell-based therapies. Turning these technologies into viable treatments will require the integration of basic science with clinical skills in rehabilitation

Prospective Identification and Purification of Quiescent Adult Neural Stem Cells from Their In Vivo Niche

SummaryAdult neurogenic niches harbor quiescent neural stem cells; however, their in vivo identity has been elusive. Here, we prospectively isolate GFAP+CD133+ (quiescent neural stem cells [qNSCs]) and GFAP+CD133+EGFR+ (activated neural stem cells [aNSCs]) from the adult ventricular-subventricular zone. aNSCs are rapidly cycling, highly neurogenic in vivo, and enriched in colony-forming cells in vitro. In contrast, qNSCs are largely dormant in vivo, generate olfactory bulb interneurons with slower kinetics, and only rarely form colonies in vitro. Moreover, qNSCs are Nestin negative, a marker widely used for neural stem cells. Upon activation, qNSCs upregulate Nestin and EGFR and become highly proliferative. Notably, qNSCs and aNSCs can interconvert in vitro. Transcriptome analysis reveals that qNSCs share features with quiescent stem cells from other organs. Finally, small-molecule screening identified the GPCR ligands, S1P and PGD2, as factors that actively maintain the quiescent state of qNSCs

A niche for adult neural stem cells

The adult mammalian brain harbors multipotent stem cells, which reside and participate in specialized niches that support self-renewal and differentiation. The first cellular and molecular elements of the stem cell niche in the adult brain have been identified and include cell-cell interactions and somatic cell signaling, the vasculature, the extracellular matrix and basal lamina. Furthermore, regulation at the epigenetic level via chromatin modification and remodeling is an integral aspect of stem cell biology. Understanding the in vivo stem cell niche will provide a framework for the elucidation of stem cell function in the adult brain