Endothelial cells maintain neural stem cells quiescent in their niche

Niches are specialized microenvironments that regulate stem cells' activity. The neural stem cell (NSC) niche defines a zone in which NSCs are retained and produce new cells of the nervous system throughout life. Understanding the signaling mechanisms by which the niche controls the NSC fate is crucial for the success of clinical applications. In a recent study, Sato and colleagues, by using state-of-the-art techniques, including sophisticated in vivo lineage-tracing technologies, provide evidence that endothelial amyloid precursor protein (APP) is an important component of the NSC niche. Strikingly, depletion of APP increased NSC proliferation in the subventricular zone, indicating that endothelial cells negatively regulate NSCs' growth. The emerging knowledge from this research will be important for the treatment of several neurological diseases.