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ISDN2012_0208: The spinal cord ependymal region: A stem cell niche in the caudal central nervous system
Author(s) -
Hugnot J.P.,
Sabourin J.C.,
Ohayon D.,
Perrin F.E.,
Bauchet L.,
Pattyn A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2012.10.032
Subject(s) - biology , ependymal cell , sonic hedgehog , subependymal zone , neurogenesis , ependyma , microbiology and biotechnology , neural stem cell , stem cell , rostral migratory stream , spinal cord , olig2 , anatomy , progenitor cell , central nervous system , wnt signaling pathway , hedgehog , neuroscience , subventricular zone , oligodendrocyte , signal transduction , myelin
In the brain, specific signalling pathways localized in highly organized regions called niches, allow the persistence of a pool of stem and progenitor cells that generate new neurons and glial cells in adulthood. Much less is known on the spinal cord central canal niche where a sustained adult neurogenesis is not observed. Here we review our current knowledge of this caudal niche in normal and pathological situations. Far from being a simple layer of homogenous cells, this region is composed of several cell types localized at specific locations, expressing characteristic markers and with different morphologies and functions. We further report on a screen of online gene-expression databases to better define this spinal cord niche. Several genes were found to be preferentially expressed within or around the central canal region (Bmp6, CXCR4, Gdf10, Fzd3, Mdk, Nrtn, Rbp1, Shh, Sox4, Wnt7a) some of which by specific cellular subtypes. In depth characterization of the spinal cord niche constitutes a framework to make the most out of this endogenous cell pool in spinal cord disorders.