Neural Stem Cell Markers

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are responsible for the lifelong production of newborn neurons, a process referred to as neurogenesis, in at least two distinct zones: the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. Adult NSCs are primarily quiescent, a reversible cell state where they have exited the cell cycle (G0) yet remain responsive to the environment. In the first step of adult neurogenesis, quiescent NSCs (qNSCs) receive a signal and activate, exiting quiescence and re-entering the cell cycle. These activated NSCs (aNSCs) can both self-renew and produce progenitors, which expand the population, before ultimately differentiating into newborn neurons, which mature and integrate into the existing circuitry. Recent evidence suggests that NSC quiescence exit is the rate-limiting step in adult neurogenesis and is decreased with age and disease.