Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
09:51
Assessing Cell Cycle Progression of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells in the Mouse Developing Brain after Genotoxic Stress
Published on: May 7, 2014
Neural cell cycle dysregulation and central nervous system diseases
Wei Wang1, Bitao Bu, Minjie Xie
1Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, PR China. wangwei1963@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn
Progress in Neurobiology
|July 22, 2009
Summary
Cell cycle dysregulation contributes to central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Aberrant cell cycle re-entry in neurons triggers death, a common pathway in neurodegenerative disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- The cell cycle is crucial for neural development, differentiation, and cell death.
- Dysregulation of cell cycle regulators is linked to central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
- Activated glia contribute to CNS pathology via glial scar formation and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of the cell cycle in neural development.
- To explore the link between neural cell cycle dysregulation and CNS diseases.
- To summarize findings on cell cycle machinery's role in neuronal death.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on cell cycle regulation in the CNS.
- Analysis of cell cycle involvement in acute CNS injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Summary of research implicating cell cycle machinery in neuronal demise.
Main Results:
- Cell cycle activation in glia contributes to CNS disease pathology.
- In terminally differentiated neurons, aberrant cell cycle re-entry leads to apoptosis.
- Neuronal cell cycle blockade at G1-S is observed in acute CNS injury (e.g., stroke).
- Neuronal cell cycle arrest at G2/M occurs in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's).
Conclusions:
- Cell cycle dysregulation is a significant factor in CNS disease pathophysiology.
- Aberrant neuronal cell cycle re-entry represents a common pathway for neuronal death in various CNS disorders.
- Understanding cell cycle mechanisms in neurons is vital for developing treatments for CNS diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Neural Regulation
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
01:28The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
02:11The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
01:27Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division
Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...