Chemical control of neural stem cells

Chemicals that regulate neurotransmitter signaling in neurons can also prevent neural stem cell proliferation, according to a paper in the May issue of Nature Chemical Biology. Neural stem cells are a potentially important therapeutic target for neurological diseases and brain tumors. However, very little is known about the potential for using small molecules to regulate neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation.

Using cultures of neural precursor cells, Peter B. Dirks and colleagues screened a chemical library for inhibitors of neural precursor cell proliferation. Within the 'hits' were a number of small molecules that are known to influence neurotransmitter signaling in neurons. These unexpected results indicate that neurotransmitter signaling pathways may also function in neural stem cells and raises the possibility of using existing drugs that regulate neurotransmitter signaling in the treatment of brain tumors.

Chemical genetics reveals a complex functional ground state of neural stem cells

Phedias Diamandis, Jan Wildenhain, Ian D Clarke, Adrian G Sacher, Jeremy Graham, David S Bellows, Erick K M Ling, Ryan J Ward, Leanne G Jamieson, Mike Tyers and Peter B Dirks

Published online: 8 April 2007 | doi 10.1038/nchembio873

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