Maintenance of neural stem cell regional identity in culture.
Neural stem cells (NSCs) are distributed throughout the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) in the adult mouse brain. NSCs located in spatially distinct regions of the V-SVZ generate different types of olfactory bulb (OB) neurons, and the regional expression of specific transcription factors correlates with these differences in NSC developmental potential. In a recent article, we show that Nkx2.1-expressing embryonic precursors give rise to NKX2.1+ NSCs located in the ventral V-SVZ of adult mice. Here we characterize a V-SVZ monolayer culture system that retains regional gene expression and neurogenic potential of NSCs from the dorsal and ventral V-SVZ. In particular, we find that Nkx2.1-lineage V-SVZ NSCs maintain Nkx2.1 expression through serial passage and can generate new neurons in vitro. Thus, V-SVZ NSCs retain key aspects of their in vivo regional identity in culture, providing new experimental opportunities for understanding how such developmental patterns are established and maintained during development.
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Biomedical Sciences Program, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Ryan N
RN
Delgado
Department of Anatomy, Premedical and Forensic School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Forensic Toxicological Analysis, Premedical and Forensic School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Changqing
C
Lu
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Daniel A
DA
Lim
Nkx2.1; Regional identity; Stem cell heterogeneity; V-SVZ; adult neurogenesis