title: PDGFR alpha-positive B cells are neural stem cells in the adult SVZ that form glioma-like growths in response to increased PDGF signaling.
abstract: Neurons and oligodendrocytes are produced in the adult brain subventricular zone (SVZ) from neural stem cells (B cells), which express GFAP and have morphological properties of astrocytes. We report here on the identification B cells expressing the PDGFRalpha in the adult SVZ. Specifically labeled PDGFRalpha expressing B cells in vivo generate neurons and oligodendrocytes. Conditional ablation of PDGFRalpha in a subpopulation of postnatal stem cells showed that this receptor is required for oligodendrogenesis, but not neurogenesis. Infusion of PDGF alone was sufficient to arrest neuroblast production and induce SVZ B cell proliferation contributing to the generation of large hyperplasias with some features of gliomas. The work demonstrates that PDGFRalpha signaling occurs early in the adult stem cell lineage and may help regulate the balance between oligodendrocyte and neuron production. Excessive PDGF activation in the SVZ in stem cells is sufficient to induce hallmarks associated with early stages of tumor formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery and Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Verdugo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gil-Perotin
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quinones-Hinojosa
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: VandenBerg
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Buylla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha