Background Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) reside within a complex and dynamic

Background Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) reside within a complex and dynamic extracellular microenvironment, or niche. we attempt to modulate normal neural development and repair. Furthermore, an improved understanding of how these factors regulate cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, crucial for malignancy, may reveal novel anti-tumor strategies. gene, it has been shown that CSPG4/NG2 promotes proliferation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA)-positive OPCs and its absence confers delays in mature oligodendrocyte production [69]. In combination with binding studies demonstrating high affinity binding sites for FGF2 and PDGFAA on CSPG4/NG2 [46], it has been suggested that CSPG4/NG2 may act as a reservoir or co-receptor for these growth factors. In addition, direct interactions between CSPG4/NG2 and the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) itself can promote mitogenic signaling, as has been observed for FGFR1 and FGFR3 in pericytes and easy muscle cells [23]. In OPCs CSPG4/NG2 is usually also a marker of polarity and regulates EGF-dependent proliferation and self-renewal [107]. As CSPG4/NG2 is usually required to set-up OPC polarity, CSPG4/NG2 may actively participate in regulating asymmetric progenitor divisions, a fundamental process to maintaining progenitor populations in the brain [107]. In addition, CSPG4/NG2 can functionally interact with diverse ECM components [20], including 31 integrins [40] and carbohydrate binding protein (lectins) [40, 119], which, as already described, are important components of the NPSC niche. As with HSPGs, sulfation of CS chains is usually a critical determinant of function, and knockdown of CSPG biosynthetic enzymes have exhibited defects in cell migration from the ventricular zone into the cortical plate [58]. Another major constituent of the developing brain and of the adult NSPC niche is usually hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid, HA). The physiologic role for HA is usually diverse due to both its range in size, from a small number of disaccharide units to an extensive high molecular weight polysaccharide, and its ability to interact with multiple extracellular molecules, including hyalectins, neurocan, aggrecan, versican, and lectican present in the NSPC niche [1, 60]. Hyaluronan can also block the differentiation of progenitor cells in the brain [37] and promote activation of RTK signaling pathways including ERBB2 and PDGFRB [90]. Its function in the NSPC niche has been recently reviewed [97]. 4. Conclusions The development and repair of the 89590-95-4 supplier central nervous system requires both precise and dynamic regulation of NSPCs that must persist 89590-95-4 supplier over the life of the organism. The extracellular microenvironment, or niche, is usually complex. There are many cellular components, such as endothelial cells, ependymal cells, more differentiated neural cells, astrocytes, and microglia. There are soluble ligands, including growth factors, morphogens, chemokines, and neurotransmitters, and there are the many components of the extracellular matrix. Together these components make up the GAL NSPC niche and act to regulate fundamental behaviors of NSPCs. In this review we use proteoglycans to illustrate ways in which the niche can regulate NSPC behavior. An improved understanding of how extrinsic cues regulate NSPC behavior is usually critical and may contribute to advances in stem/progenitor cell-based therapies, improved repair from CNS injury, and potentially novel therapies for neoplastic diseases in the brain including glioblastoma. ? Highlights NSPCs reside in a complex extracellular microenvironment or niche The extracellular matrix is 89590-95-4 supplier usually a major component of the NSPC niche Proteoglycans have diverse roles in the niche The NSPC niche harbors many potential therapeutic targets for neurologic disease Acknowledgments This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01 NS081117 to JJP) and the James S. McDonnell Foundation (J.J.P.). We apologize to the many investigators whose articles we did not cite due to space constraints. Abbreviations NSPCneural stem/progenitor cellHSPGheparan sulfate proteoglycanCSPGchondroitin sulfate proteoglycanEGFepidermal growth factorFGFfibroblast growth factorShhsonic hedgehogBMPbone morphogenic proteinOPColigodendroglial precursor cells Footnotes Publisher’s Disclaimer: This is usually a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a support to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is usually published in its final citable form. Please 89590-95-4 supplier note that during the production process errors may be 89590-95-4 supplier discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain..