Purinergic signaling regulates neural progenitor cell expansion and neurogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Neural stem and progenitor cells typically exhibit a density-dependent survival and expansion, such that critical densities are required below which clonogenic progenitors are lost. This suggests that short-range autocrine factors may be critical for progenitor cell maintenance. We report here that purines drive the expansion of ventricular zone neural stem and progenitor cells, and that purine receptor activation is required for progenitor cells to be maintained as such. Neural progenitors expressed P2Y purinergic receptors and mobilized intracellular calcium in response to agonist. Receptor antagonists suppressed proliferation and permitted differentiation into neurons and glia in vitro, while subsequent removal of purinergic inhibition restored progenitor cell expansion. Real-time biolu

SUBMITTER: Lin JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1924912 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature