Functional roles of astrocytes in modulating neural stem and progenitor cells in the adult mammalian spinal cord

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Adult mammalian spinal cord lacks the ability for self repair despite the presence of tissue-specific neural stem cells (NSCs) inside the spinal cord. During the developmental growth, NSCs show the capacity to give rise to all types of spinal cord cells including neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes and build the spinal cord. However, in the adult spinal cord, the regenerative activity of NSCs is significantly restricted. Interestingly, evidence from our research and that of others demonstrates that injuries to the adult spinal cord result in limited oligodendroglial cell replacement, a glial cell type required for generating myelin sheath around the spinal cord nerve fibers. These findings strongly suggest the presence of environmental factors that tightly regulate the innate potential of NSCs within the adult spinal cord. ** To date, we have only a poor understanding of the events that modulate the properties of adult NSCs within their spinal cord environment. Our goal is to understand the dynamic responses of spinal cord NSCs to changing their environment under both normal and disease conditions. In this proposal, my team and I will focus on the impact of astrocytes and their secreted factors in controlling the properties of endogenous NSCs in the developing and adult spinal cord. Astrocytes are support cells of the spinal cord that play pivotal roles in many aspects of spinal cord biology. Astrocytes secrete a host of cytokines and growth factors with both promoting and inhibitory nature that can influence the behaviour of NSCs. The knowledge to be gained from this research will provide new fundamental knowledge in spinal cord research and novel targets for enhancing endogenous repair and regeneration in conditions such as spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis. Importantly, this research program will also provide a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students as well as junior researcher to gain highly valued expertise in neuroscience and stem cell research and to develop the skills to perform independent scientific research.**************