Brain, discovered gene-director of stem cells – Biotech

It is a gene if the brain cells are produced in the right amount, without deficiencies and especially without dangerous excess that can lead to inflammation badociated with diseases serious, with Azheimer. This was revealed by Italian research published in the journal Cell Reports and coordinated by the group of the University of Turin directed by Silvia De Marchis, the Institute of Neuroscience Cavalieri Ottolenghi (Nico) and the Department of Science of Living and Systems Biology (DBIOS), in collaboration with the laboratory of the University of Nice directed by Michèle Studer.

The result, notes De Marchis, opens "interesting perspectives for the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions badociated with neurological diseases". The existence of stem cells in certain brain regions of adult mammals is known, but much remains to be discovered about the factors that regulate the formation of new neurons. Therefore, discovering that there is a director involved in this function is an important step forward.

The gene called Coup-Tfi and up to here was known for the many functions that it has in brain development. Now, Italian research has discovered that its task is to make stem cells produce the right amount of star-shaped nerve cells called astrocytes and which make up the glia, which is the backbone of the brain. The attention of the researchers focused on the stem cells of the region of the brain called hippocampus, which plays a key role in cognitive processes such as memory and learning

In this area, stem cells form both new neurons and new cells. this balance ensures the proper functioning of the hippocampus. The study also pointed out how the activity of the Coup-Tfi gene was reduced "in adult stem cells in the presence of neuroinflammation," noted the first author of the research, Sara Bonzano, and that the situation has returned to normal.