6533b7d3fe1ef96bd1260bca

RESEARCH PRODUCT

cGMP modulates stem cells differentiation to neurons in brain in vivo pathological implications

subject

description

During brain development there is a strict control of the proliferation, migration and differentiation of neural stem cells to different cell types. Alterations in the control of these processes may result in altered balance in the formation of different cell types resulting in a long-lasting impairment of cerebral processes. This occurs for example if brain is exposed to alcohol during key stages of development which results in accelerated glial cells formation, impaired neuron formation and impaired cognitive function. The molecular mechanisms modulating differentiation of neural stem cells to neurons or non neuronal cells are not well known. Nitric oxide (NO) plays a relevant role in this process. NO increases the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase and is a main modulator of cGMP levels in brain. It has been proposed that cGMP-mediated NO signalling may be involved in the early differentiation events of embryonic stem cells. If this is the case, pathological situations in which the production of cGMP is altered during brain development could lead to altered differentiation of stem cells to neurons or glial cells, resulting in cognitive impairment in the children. Moreover, normalizing cGMP levels in these situations could prevent the alterations in neural stem cells differentiation and cognitive impairment.