Brain regionalisation, neuronal subtype diversification and circuit connectivity are crucial events in the establishment of higher cognitive functions. Here we report the requirement for the transcriptional repressor Fezf2 for proper differentiation of neural progenitor cells during the development of the Xenopus forebrain. Depletion of Fezf2 induces apoptosis in postmitotic neural progenitors,...

Niche astrocytes have been reported to promote neuronal differentiation through juxtacrine signaling. However, the effects of astrocytes on neuronal differentiation following ischemic stroke are not fully understood. In the present study, transplanted astrocytes and neural stem cells (NSCs) were transplanted into the ischemic striatum of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model r...

Previously, we have reported that glioblastoma (GBM) cells can be differentiated into cells showing neuronal, glial and non-neural (mesenchymal) phenotypes. Before the differentiation the GBM cells co-expressed GFAP, CD44, Beta III tubulin, MAP2, Vimentin, Nestin and SOX-2, whereas during the exposure to a neural differentiation medium the differentiation process was arrested at the early stage...

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) plays a critical role in brain function. However, the regulatory mechanisms controlling neuronal MR expression that constitutes a key element of the hormonal response are currently unknown. Two alternative P1 and P2 promoters drive human MR gene transcription. To examine promoter activities and their regulation during neuronal differentiation and in mature neuron...

Development is an irreversible process of differentiating the undifferentiated cells to functional cells. Brain development involves generation with varied phenotype and functions, which limited during adulthood, stress, damage/degeneration. Cellular reprogramming makes differentiation reversible somatic/stem alternative fate with/without stem Exogenously expressed transcription factors or smal...