Neural stem cells in response to microenvironment changes inside and outside of the brain

Abstract

Neural stem cells/neural progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) residing in the neurogenic regions of the brain play a crucial role in brain development, brain plasticity, and brain repair. Recent progress in NSC/NPC research has advanced our understanding of the NSC/NPC niche and signaling networks controlling NSC/NPC proliferation and differentiation. However, the natural behavioral of NSCs/NPCs in response to physiological and pathological changes inside and outside the brain remains poorly understood. This chapter has summarized recent findings concerning NSC/NPC activity in the early stage of cortical brain ischemia and the hematopoietic stem cell growth factors in regulating NSC/NPC proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, future directions for NSC/NPC research are also discussed in this chapter.