Multiple roles of beta-catenin in controlling the neurogenic niche for midbrain dopamine neurons.

ABSTRACT: Stem cell-based replacement therapy has emerged as a potential strategy to alleviate specific features of movement disorder in Parkinson's disease. However, the current strategy to produce dopamine (DA) neurons from embryonic stem cells has many limitations, including the difficulty of generating DA neurons with high yields. Further insights into the mechanisms that control the neurogenesis of DA neurons will reduce or mitigate such limitations. It is well established that the ventral midbrain (vMB) contains the neurogenic niche that produces DA neurons. However, it is unclear how the microenvironment within this niche controls DA neurogenesis. Here, we show that beta-catenin controls DA neurogenesis by maintaining the integrity of the neurogenic niche and the progression from progenitors

SUBMITTER: Tang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2685724 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature