Astroglial cells in development, regeneration, and repair.
Three main cellular components have been described in the CNS: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In the past 10 years, lineage studies first based on retroviruses in the embryonic CNS and then by genetic fate mapping in both the prenatal and postnatal CNS have proposed that astroglial cells can be progenitors for neurons and oligodendrocytes. Hence, the population of astroglial cells is increasingly recognized as heterogeneous and diverse, encompassing cell types performing widely different roles in development and plasticity. Astroglial cells populating the neurogenic niches increase their proliferation after perinatal injury and in young mice can differentiate into neurons and oligodendrocytes that migrate to the cerebral cortex, replacing the cells that are lost. Although much remains to be learned about this process, it appears that the up-regulation of the Fibroblast growth factor receptor is critical for mediating the injury-induced increase in cell division and perhaps for the neuronal differentiation of astroglial cells.
Vaccarino
Flora M
FM
Child Study Center, Department of Neurobiology, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT, USA. flora.vaccarino@yale.edu
Fagel
Devon M
DM
Ganat
Yosif
Y
Maragnoli
Maria E
ME
Ment
Laura R
LR
Ohkubo
Yasushi
Y
Schwartz
Michael L
ML
Silbereis
John
J
Smith
Karen M
KM
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor