The transcription factor PITX1 drives astrocyte differentiation by regulating the SOX9 gene.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes perform multiple essential functions in the developing and mature brain, including regulation of synapse formation, control of neurotransmitter release and uptake, and maintenance of extracellular ion balance. As a result, astrocytes have been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Despite these critical functions, the study of human astrocytes can be difficult because standard differentiation protocols are time-consuming and technically challenging, but a differentiation protocol recently developed in our laboratory enables the efficient derivation of astrocytes from human embryonic stem cells. We used this protocol along with microarrays, luciferase assays, electrophoretic mobilit

SUBMITTER: Byun JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7521637 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature