title: Role of C/EBPβ transcription factor in adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is one of the regions in which neurogenesis takes place in the adult brain. We have previously demonstrated that CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is expressed in the granular layer of the dentate gyrus of the adult mouse hippocampus. Taking into account the important role of C/EBPβ in the consolidation of long term memory, the fact that newborn neurons in the hippocampus contribute to learning and memory processes, and the role of this transcription factor, previously demonstrated by our group, in regulating neuronal differentiation, we speculated that this transcription factor could regulate stem/progenitor cells in this region of the brain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we show, using C/EBPβ knockout mice, that C/EBPβ expression is observed in the subset of newborn cells that proliferate in the hippocampus of the adult brain. Mice lacking C/EBPβ present reduced survival of newborn cells in the hippocampus, a decrease in the number of these cells that differentiate into neurons and a diminished number of cells that are proliferating in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. These results were further confirmed in vitro. Neurosphere cultures from adult mice deficient in C/EBPβ present less proliferation and neuronal differentiation than neurospheres derived from wild type mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, using in vivo and in vitro strategies, we have identified C/EBPβ as a key player in the proliferation and survival of the new neurons produced in the adult mouse hippocampus. Our results support a novel role of C/EBPβ in the processes of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, providing new insights into the mechanisms that control neurogenesis in this region of the brain.
authors: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas-Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Cortes-Canteli
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Aguilar-Morante
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Sanz-Sancristobal
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: Megias
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Santos
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Perez-Castillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein
chemical_list: D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein