Behavior of neural stem cells in the Alzheimer brain. Academic Article

abstract

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of beta-amyloid peptides (Abeta) and a progressive loss of neurons leading to dementia. Because hippocampal neurogenesis is linked to functions such as learning, memory and mood, there has been great interest in examining the effects of AD on hippocampal neurogenesis. This article reviews the pertinent studies and tries to unite them in one possible disease model. Early in the disease, oligomeric Abeta may transiently promote the generation of immature neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs). However, reduced concentrations of multiple neurotrophic factors and higher levels of fibroblast growth factor-2 seem to induce a developmental arrest of newly generated neurons. Furthermore, fibrillary Abeta and down-regulation of oligodendrocyte-lineage transcription factor-2 (OLIG2) may cause the death of these nonfunctional neurons. Therefore, altering the brain microenvironment for fostering apt maturation of graft-derived neurons may be critical for improving the efficacy of NSC transplantation therapy for AD.

authors

• Shetty, Ashok

published proceedings

• Cell Mol Life Sci

author list (cited authors)

• Waldau, B., & Shetty, A. K.

citation count

• 76

complete list of authors

• Waldau, B||Shetty, AK

publication date

• January 2008

publisher

• Springer Nature  Publisher

published in

• Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences  Journal

keywords

• Alzheimer Disease
• Amyloid Beta-Peptides
• Animals
• Brain
• Cell Differentiation
• Humans
• Neurons
• Stem Cells

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1007/s00018-008-8053-y

start page

• 2372

end page

• 2384

volume

• 65

issue

• 15

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8053-y