Neural stem cells: plasticity and therapeutic potential

Abstract

The adult brain retains neural stem cells (NSC). At least two evidences support this notion; firstly primary precursors within the central nervous system (CNS) germinal zone continue to produce neuron and glia throughout an animal life; second, cells from adult brain with the properties of NCS can be grown in vitro in presence of mitogens. NSCs are multipotential precursors that grow and self‐renew in culture in response to growth factors for extensive time. It has recently been argued that NSCs undergo rapid transformation in vitro. Our recent data, which describe the systematic investigation of the functional properties of NSCs upon long‐term culturing shown that NSCs do not display any sign of transformations neither at early nor at late culture stages; moreover the self‐renewal capacity of NSCs does not change over time. I will then show how we can confirm previous findings showing how NSCs do possess the ability to give rise to non‐neural‐derivatives, i.e. mesodermal cells. Finally, I will illustrate the lack of any tumorigenic potential of NSCs and their striking capacity for engraftment in the CNS.