AG Neural regeneration and plasticity

The adult brain maintains the capacity to generate neural precursor cells throughout lifetime. In selected regions (dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles) these precursors differentiate into neurons and get functionally integrated into the local neuronal circuits, a multistep phenomenon described as adult neurogenesis. In other regions (substantia nigra, hypothalamus) the brain continuously builds new potential neuronal precursors, but without the in vivo capacity for neurogenesis.  In the healthy brain adult neurogenesis is robustly regulated by physiological changes in lifestyle as physical activity and nutrition resulting in functional alterations. The group aims to answer the questions, which molecular and cellular key players create such neurogenic microenvironment and why is the adult neurogenic brain not capable to compensate neurodegenerative damage by replacing lost neurons. We aim to understand the mechanisms underlying the increase in adult neurogenesis and precursor proliferation by lifestyle changes and to provide this knowledge on the development of therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases based on neuronal cell replacement.

Fig. left: Milestones of neuronal development in the adult hippocampus   
Fig. right: Proliferating neural precursors cells in the adult brain

Methods

Animal models for neurodegenerative diseases, transgenic mice, behavioural testings, stem cell transplantation, immunohistochemistry, PCR, western blotting

Funding

– Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
– Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung
– Europäische Union
– Investitionsbank Berlin

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Ausgewählte Publikationen

Hühnchen P, Prozorovski T, Klaissle P, Lesemann A, Ingwersen J, Wolf SA, Kupsch A, Aktas O, Steiner B. 2010.

Modulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis during myelin-directed autoimmune neuroinflammation. GLIA in press.

Wolf SA*, Steiner B*, Wengner A, Lipp M, Kammertoens T, Kempermann G. 2009.

Adaptive peripheral immune response increases proliferation of
neural precursor cells in the adult hippocampus. FASEB 23(9): 3121-8.

Wolf SA*, Steiner B*, Akipnarli A, Kammertons T, Nassenstein C, Braun A, Blankenstein T, Kempermann G. 2009.

CD4-positive T lymphocytes provide neuroimmunological link in the control of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. J Immunol 182(7): 3979-84.

Steiner B*, Klempin R*, Wang LP, Kott M, Kettenmann H,  Kempermann G. 2006.

Type-2 cells as link between glial and neuronal lineage. GLIA 54 (8): 805-14.

Steiner B*, Winter C*, Hosman K, Siebert E, Kempermann G, Kupsch A. 2005.

Enriched environment and physiological activity induce microenvironmental changes in the adult substantia nigra and improve motor behaviour in the 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Exp Neurology 199(2): 291-300.

Bick-Sander A, Steiner B, Babu H, Wolf S, Kempermann G, 2006.

Running in pregnancy transiently increases postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis in the offspring. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103(10): 3852-7.

Steiner B, Kronenberg G, Jessberger S, Brandt MD, Reuter K, Kempermann G. 2004.

Differential regulation of gliogenesis in the context of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice. Glia 46(1): 41-52.

Steiner B, Wolf SA, Kempermann G. 2006.

Adult neurogenesis and neurodegenerative disease. Reg Med 1(1): 15-28.

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