Second Stem Cell Type Discovered in Mouse Brain

Summary: A newly discovered second stem cell population in the mouse brain is responsible for the production of new neurons in the olfactory bulb of adult mice.

Source: Heidelburg University

In the brain of adult mammals, neural stem cells ensure that new nerve cells, i.e. neurons, are constantly formed. This process, known as adult neurogenesis, helps mice maintain their sense of smell.

A research team led by Dr Francesca Ciccolini at the Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN) of Heidelberg University recently discovered a second stem cell population in the mouse brain.

This new type of stem cell, and not the one previously known, is primarily involved in the production of new neurons in the olfactory bulb of adult mice.

Until now, scientific investigations on neurogenesis have concentrated on the so-called apical stem cells.

“They were long considered to be the only stem cell population in the adult mouse brain as well as the main driver of nerve cell formation,” explains Dr Ciccolini.

These neural stem cells are located in the subventricular zone near the lateral cerebral ventricle. They were once believed to form the precursor cells that then differentiate in the olfactory bulb of mice into interneurons, nerve cells that modulate stimuli transmission between interconnecting neurons.

The Heidelberg researchers were able to disprove the single stem cell type theory and the assumption that apical stem cells are responsible for neurogenesis.

Originally, the researchers in the Neurobiology department were investigating how this allegedly lone stem cell population in the mouse brain behaves in various situations.

They used genetically modified animals whose neural stem cells were dyed green using a dye active in the cell nucleus. The neurobiologists were surprised to discover that most of the green cells did not display the known characteristics of apical stem cells.

“At first, we thought that they could be astrocytes, helper cells that ensure that the neurons are able to do their work. But after we conducted a number of function analyses, it rapidly became clear that these had to be a separate stem cell population,” stresses Dr Ciccolini.

Further studies showed that the newly discovered stem cell type differs from the known population in its morphology as well as its function. This type of cell has no contact with the lateral cerebral ventricle and is therefore called basal.

The researchers determined that the basal – and not the apical – stem cells are responsible for the formation of neurons in the olfactory bulb. To prove this, they separately labelled both cell populations and then observed whether labelled neurons turned up in the olfactory bulb.

“This only happened when the basal population was labelled,” explains Francesca Ciccolini.

When only apical stem cells were labelled, no new labelled neurons could be detected in the olfactory bulb.

This shows a dna strand
Until now, scientific investigations on neurogenesis have concentrated on the so-called apical stem cells. Image is in the public domain

The Heidelberg scientists also found out that both stem cell types and precursor cells in the mouse brain communicate with one another via so-called notch interactions. A receptor of the same name plays a vital role, controlling the speed at which the cells multiply and monitoring the cell differentiation process.

“The notch activity decides, as it were, whether a stem cell remains a stem cell or develops into a nerve cell,” explains Katja Baur, a doctoral researcher in Francesca Ciccolini’s working group.

“We suspect that the apical stem cells intervene in the activation of the notch signal pathway and can inhibit proliferation and neurogenesis,” she adds. Amongst other things, that prevents the depletion of the stem cell reservoir.

“Our discovery that another stem cell type exists in the mouse brain of adult animals throws new light on the processes of neuron formation,” emphasises Dr Ciccolini.

The human brain has similar stem cells that are involved in the formation of brain tumours. The Heidelberg researchers hope that their work will also shed new light on the development and possible treatment of such tumours.

About this stem cell research news

Author: Ute Mueller-Detert
Source: Heidelburg University
Contact: Ute Mueller-Detert – Heidelburg University
Image: The image is in the public domain

Original Research: Open access.
A novel stem cell type at the basal side of the subventricular zone maintains adult neurogenesis” by Francesca Ciccolini et al. EMBO Reports


Abstract

A novel stem cell type at the basal side of the subventricular zone maintains adult neurogenesis

According to the current consensus, murine neural stem cells (NSCs) apically contacting the lateral ventricle generate differentiated progenitors by rare asymmetric divisions or by relocating to the basal side of the ventricular–subventricular zone (V-SVZ). Both processes will ultimately lead to the generation of adult-born olfactory bulb (OB) interneurons.

In contrast to this view, we here find that adult-born OB interneurons largely derive from an additional NSC-type resident in the basal V-SVZ. Despite being both capable of self-renewal and long-term quiescence, apical and basal NSCs differ in Nestin expression, primary cilia extension and frequency of cell division.

The expression of Notch-related genes also differs between the two NSC groups, and Notch activation is greatest in apical NSCs. Apical downregulation of Notch-effector Hes1 decreases Notch activation while increasing proliferation across the niche and neurogenesis from apical NSCs.

Underscoring their different roles in neurogenesis, lactation-dependent increase in neurogenesis is paralleled by extra activation of basal but not apical NSCs. Thus, basal NSCs support OB neurogenesis, whereas apical NSCs impart Notch-mediated lateral inhibition across the V-SVZ.

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  1. Insulin is formed in the fetal brain and adult brain in stress situations. Insulin axis (Insulin-ILGF-receptors) balance modulates optimal or excessive neurogenesis: If Insulin signaling predominates, there will a risk of tumor brain brain (glioma insulin renewal). Its demonstrated thar caloric restriction reduces glioma in vitro and in vivo, because reduces excessive insulin signaling (Hyperinsulinemic states, as obesity in mother /child).
    On the contrary, in Alzheimer’s disease (or Parkinson diseases spectrum), exist a brain insulin receptor disturb (reducing brain insulin signaling) that reduce bulb olfactory neurogenesis. Chidambaram recently demostrates that Insulin receptor deletion produced hyposmia caused by aberrant olfactory bulb neurogenesis. And in these neurologic diseases, hyposmia precedes, largely, predementia states.
    We suggest that a new second stem-cell type is regulated by brain insulin axis.

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