Neural stem cell engineering: Directed differentiation of adult and embryonic stem cells into neurons

Abstract

Both adult neural stem cells and embryonic stem cells have shown the capacity to differentiate into multiple cell types of the adult nervous system. They will, therefore, serve valuable for investigations of mechanisms that determine cell fate choice , as well as play important future roles in applications ranging from regenerative medicine to drug screening. However, significant challenges are remaining, including identification of signaling factors that specify cell fate in the stem cell niche, analysis of intracellular targets and mechanisms of these extracellular signals. These will also aid in the development of ex vivo culture systems that can exert efficient control over cell function. This review will discuss progress in the identification of signaling mechanisms and culture systems that regulate neural and neuronal differentiation, and neuronal subtype specification.