Page 14 - IBRO_RNA School_Abstract Book

Adult neural stem cells: beyond the neuronal and glial

potential

Hiyaa Ghosh

National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore,

Karnataka, India

The realization that neural stem cells exist in the adult brain has ignited both

curiosity and hope in the scientific community and at large. These
specialized cells, that are capable of making new neurons in the adult
brain, reside in select loca-tions in the brain, and continually make
specialized neurons throughout the adult lifespan; a process termed as adult
neurogenesis. The stem cells in the adult brain are thought to have the potential

to produce neuronal and glial cells - but is that all? Do we know the full
potential of these stem cells residing in the adult brain? Is it indeed all good
news to have neural stem cells in the brain? In this talk, I will discuss adult
neurogenesis, and present some of our new discoveries that reveal a new
aspect of the adult neural stem cells that is potentially relevant to
neuroinflammation.