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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
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Isolation of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells from the Periventricular Region of the Adult Rat and Human Spinal Cord
Published on: May 14, 2015
Isolation of postnatal human neural stem cells.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|June 22, 2026
Summary
The human brain generates new neurons after birth. Researchers identified two distinct types of postnatal neural stem cells (NSCs) and characterized their differentiation, offering insights into brain development and aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Research
Background:
- Neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons, was previously thought to cease at birth.
- Postnatal neurogenesis occurs in the human brain, but the progenitor cells, postnatal neural stem cells (NSCs), are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize distinct subsets of postnatal human neural stem cells (NSCs).
- To investigate the differentiation potential and lifespan dynamics of these identified NSC populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized index sorting for prospective isolation of human postnatal NSCs.
- Employed clonal barcoding and in vivo xenotransplantation to analyze NSC differentiation dynamics.
- Profiled NSC frequencies across the human lifespan.
Main Results:
- Identified two NSC subsets: A2B5+ EGFR+ (NINO) biased towards interneuron and oligodendrocyte fates, and A2B5- EGFRhi (NAC) biased towards astrocyte fates.
- Demonstrated that NSC frequency declines exponentially in the first two decades of life, then stabilizes, with cells present in individuals up to 90 years old.
Conclusions:
- Provides a framework for studying postnatal human NSCs.
- Highlights the potential roles of these NSCs in human development, aging, and neurological diseases.
