Human Neural Stem Cell Systems to Explore Pathogen-Related Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders.
Matteo BaggianiMaria Teresa Dell'AnnoMauro PistelloLuciano ContiMarco OnoratiPublished in: Cells (2020)
Building and functioning of the human brain requires the precise orchestration and execution of myriad molecular and cellular processes, across a multitude of cell types and over an extended period of time. Dysregulation of these processes affects structure and function of the brain and can lead to neurodevelopmental, neurological, or psychiatric disorders. Multiple environmental stimuli affect neural stem cells (NSCs) at several levels, thus impairing the normal human neurodevelopmental program. In this review article, we will delineate the main mechanisms of infection adopted by several neurotropic pathogens, and the selective NSC vulnerability. In particular, TORCH agents, i.e., Toxoplasma gondii, others (including Zika virus and Coxsackie virus), Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex virus, will be considered for their devastating effects on NSC self-renewal with the consequent neural progenitor depletion, the cellular substrate of microcephaly. Moreover, new evidence suggests that some of these agents may also affect the NSC progeny, producing long-term effects in the neuronal lineage. This is evident in the paradigmatic example of the neurodegeneration occurring in Alzheimer's disease.
Keyphrases
- zika virus
- endothelial cells
- toxoplasma gondii
- stem cells
- dengue virus
- herpes simplex virus
- neural stem cells
- single cell
- aedes aegypti
- induced pluripotent stem cells
- pluripotent stem cells
- quality improvement
- cerebral ischemia
- white matter
- epstein barr virus
- cognitive decline
- autism spectrum disorder
- gram negative
- resting state
- cell fate
- multiple sclerosis
- amino acid