German scientists identify balance mechanism of neural stem cells

German scientists have identified two components, which can balance the self-renewal and the differentiation of neural stem cells, and the finding may bring new hope to the brain tumor treatment.

The academic study was published in the latest issue of Stem Cell Reports on Tuesday.

Enormous amounts of nerve cells in the human brain are derived from neural stem cells. Before differentiating into nerve cells, stem cells must sufficiently replicate themselves first. If the balance is lost, serious consequences such as brain tumor may arise.

Scientists from the University of Bonn in Germany and the German Neurodegenerative Diseases Center studied the balance mechanism, and found two inter-restricted components, which play important roles in keeping such a balance.

One component called "notch signaling" stimulates stem cells to proliferate themselves actively, while at the same time prevents them from converting into nerve cells.

Another component, however, acts as the opponent of "notch signaling" by inhibiting the self-renewal of stem cells and facilitating nerve cell generation.

"This mechanism apparently prevents stem cells from self-reproducing too fast," Dr. Oliver Bruestle, director of the Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology of the University of Bonn, said. He also described the mechanism as "each step on the accelerator directly followed by a step on the brake."

Scientists will further study how to regulate stem cells and hope to apply the findings in brain cell replacement in future. Endit