title: The role of nuclear receptors in controlling the fine balance between proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells.
abstract: In the central nervous system (CNS) of vertebrates a large variety of cell types are specified from a pool of highly plastic neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) via a combined action of extrinsic morphogenetic cues and intrinsic transcriptional regulatory networks. Nuclear receptors and their ligands are key regulators of fate decisions in NSCs during development and adulthood, through their ability to control transcription of downstream genes. In the last few years considerable progress has been made towards the understanding of the actions of nuclear receptors in NSCs as well as elucidating the mechanistic basis for these actions. Here we summarize recent progress in the role of nuclear receptors in the biology of NSCs. These studies highlight the importance of this family of transcriptional regulators in CNS development and function in health and disease. Furthermore, they raise the intriguing possibility of using nuclear receptors as therapeutic targets for nervous system related diseases and traumas.
authors.affiliation: Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou Str., 115 27 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stergiopoulos
authors.forename: Panagiotis K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Politis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D047495:PPAR gamma; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors