Discovery of 'creator' gene for cerebral cortex points to potential
stem cell treatments
UCI study identifies the specific role for gene linked to cortical
development
Irvine, Calif., January 17, 2008
University of California, Irvine researchers have identified a gene
that is specifically responsible for generating the cerebral cortex,
a finding that could lead to stem cell therapies to treat brain
injuries and diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer's.
Dr. Edwin Monuki, doctoral student Karla Hirokawa and their
colleagues in the departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and
Developmental & Cell Biology found that a gene called Lhx2 serves as
the long-sought cortical "creator" gene that instructs stem cells in
the developing brain to form the cerebral cortex. This portion of the
brain is responsible for higher sensory and cognitive functions, such
as language, decision-making and vision. Without this gene, cortical
cells will not form.
"This new understanding of Lhx2's role in cortical development can
potentially be used in stem cell research efforts to grow new
cortical neurons that can replace damaged ones in the brain," said
Monuki, an assistant professor of pathology. "This finding has
implications for continuing efforts to help people recover from a
stroke or slow the progress of neurodegenerative diseases."
Study results appear in the Jan. 18 issue of Science.
Lhx2 is among a group of genes – called selector genes – that act
during key moments of embryonic and fetal development, directing stem
cells to grow into specific parts of the body – such as brain, blood
and bone.
In tests on rodents, the researchers found that Lhx2's cortical
selector activity is critical only during the stage when the
developing cortex is made up of stem cells, not before or after. In
addition, they found that cortical stem cells that don't express the
Lhx2 gene turn into a different cell type – called a hem cell – that
induces neighboring cells to become the hippocampus, the oldest part
of the cortex in evolutionary terms and a major memory center of the
brain.
Lhx2's role in cerebral cortex development has far-reaching
implications in the nascent field of stem cell research. The Monuki
lab is currently studying how to activate Lhx2 genes in neural stem
cells and initiate the process in which new cortical cells can
grow. "If successful, the concept of using Lhx2 to instill stem cells
with cortical properties could be a basis of clinical studies that
could one day help treat patients," he said.
Researchers in Monuki's lab are deeply involved with stem cell
research. Last month, they published a study identifying a new way to
sort stem cells that should be quicker, easier and more cost-
effective than current methods. The technique could in the future
expedite therapies for people with conditions ranging from brain and
spinal cord damage to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Co-authors of the Science study are Shubha Tole, Vishakha Mangale,
Prasad Satyaki, Nandini Gokulchandran, Satyadeep Chikbire, Lakshmi
Subramanian, Ashwin Shetty, Ben Martynoga and Jolly Paul of the Tata
Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, India; Lisa Flanagan of
UC Irvine; Mark Mai of Swarthmore College; and Yuqing Li of the
University of Alabama at Birmingham. The National Institutes of
Health, the Whitehall Foundation and the March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation provided funding support.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of
California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research,
scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the
fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than
27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and nearly 2,000 faculty
members. The third-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI
contributes an annual economic impact of $3.6 billion. For more UCI
news, visit www.today.uci.
Television: UCI has a broadcast studio available for live or taped
interviews. For more information, visit www.today.uci.
News Radio: UCI maintains on campus an ISDN line for conducting
interviews with its faculty and experts. The use of this line is
available free-of-charge to radio news programs/stations who wish to
interview UCI faculty and experts. Use of the ISDN line is subject to
availability and approval by the university.
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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