Ephrins as negative regulators of adult neurogenesis in diverse regions of the central nervous system.
In the central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals, neurogenesis occurs in only two restricted areas, the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ). Isolation of multipotent progenitor cells from other CNS regions suggests that their neurogenic potential is dictated by local environmental cues. Here, we report that astrocytes in areas outside of the SGZ and SVZ of adult mice express high levels of ephrin-A2 and -A3, which present an inhibitory niche, negatively regulating neural progenitor cell growth. Adult mice lacking both ephrin-A2 and -A3 display active ongoing neurogenesis throughout the CNS. These findings suggest that neural cell replacement therapies for neurodegeneration or injury in the adult CNS may be achieved by manipulating ephrin signaling pathways.
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Jian-Wei
JW
Jiao
David A
DA
Feldheim
Dong Feng
DF
Chen
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D036383:Ephrin-A2 / Q000378:metabolism; D036384:Ephrin-A3 / Q000378:metabolism; D036342:Ephrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D036141:Receptor, EphA7 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D036383:Ephrin-A2; D036384:Ephrin-A3; D036342:Ephrins; D036141:Receptor, EphA7