title: Emx2 regulates the proliferation of stem cells of the adult mammalian central nervous system.
abstract: The appropriate control of proliferation of neural precursors has fundamental implications for the development of the central nervous system and for cell homeostasis/replacement within specific brain regions throughout adulthood. The role of genetic determinants in this process is largely unknown. We report the expression of the homeobox transcription factor Emx2 within the periventricular region of the adult telencephalon. This neurogenetic area displays a large number of multipotent stem cells. Adult neural stem cells isolated from this region do express Emx2 and down-regulate it significantly upon differentiation into neurons and glia. Abolishing or, increasing Emx2 expression in adult neural stem cells greatly enhances or reduces their rate of proliferation, respectively. We determined that altering the expression of Emx2 affects neither the cell cycle length of adult neural stem cells nor their ability to generate neurons and glia. Rather, when Emx2 expression is abolished, the frequency of symmetric divisions that generate two stem cells increases, whereas it decreases when Emx2 expression is enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research Institute, H. S. Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, I-20132, Italy. galli.rossella@hsr.it
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiocco
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Filippis
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muzio
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gritti
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mercurio
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Broccoli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mallamaci
authors.forename: Angelo L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Vescovi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins