Die Rolle von Wnt-Proteinen in der neuronalen und dopaminergen Differenzierung adulter neuraler Stammzellen

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Dieter Chichung Lie
• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2005 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 14843260

Proliferating cells with the potential to differentiate into neurons and glia are present throughout the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS). However, recruitment of these neural stem cells (NSCs) for repair of the diseased adult CNS is hampered by the current lack of knowledge about the molecular signaling pathways that control the differentiation of adult NSCs. My preliminary results suggest that Wnt-proteins play a major role in the regulation of neuronal and dopaminergic differentiation of adult NSCs. In this project, I propose to examine the role of Wnt-signaling in these processes on the cellular and molecular level in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, I propose to manipulate Wnt-signaling in the adult CNS with the goal to stimulate the neuronal and dopaminergic differentiation of endogenous NSCs in non-neurogenic regions commonly affected in neurodegenerative diseases. These studies will not only lead to a better understanding of the molecular signals controlling the behavior of adult NSCs but may ultimately have consequences for the design of novel therapeutic approaches in degenerative CNS disorders which aim at the recruitment of endogenous NSCs for replacement of dying neurons.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants