The transcription factor Fezf2 directs the differentiation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone toward a cortical phenotype
Résumé
Significance To study whether and to what extent neuronal stem cells can be reprogrammed postnatally and in the adult is of great importance because they hold the potential to treat neurological diseases for which there are no remedies so far. In the postnatal brain, neurogenesis is restricted to two brain regions: The subventricular zone (SVZ) gives rise to new neurons that preferentially develop a GABAergic phenotype, whereas in the dentate gyrus, glutamatergic neurons are produced. In this study, we took recourse to virus-mediated gene expression, and by introducing a key gene that is normally expressed in glutamatergic pyramidal neurons into SVZ-derived stem cells, we changed their GABAergic fate.