Epothilone B is a bioactive microtubule-stabilizing small molecule. This blood-brain barrier permeable coumpound belongs to the most popular potent cytoskeletal modeling molecules for in vitro cell based assays (see the previous post dedicated to “5 Cytoskeletal Modeling Molecules“).
Recently, Ruschel J. et al. have demonstrated that its delayed systemic administration in rodents promoted axonal regeneration with Central Nervous System (CNS) injuries. These findings open new therapeutic areas regarding the use of microtubule-stabilizing drug compounds, like Epothilones, in CNS recovery and neuroregeneration.

Paez-Gonzalez et al. (Duke University) have discovered a new population of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)+ neurons present in the rodent subventricular zone (SVZ). (1) This niche is known to be important in neurogenesis activity.

These ChAT+ neural cells have their own functional and structural characteristics. By example, optogenetic studies  showed that ChAT⁺ neurons are necessary and sufficient to modulate neurogenic proliferation. The authors also found local interaction between SVZ Neural Stem Cells and acetylcholine locally released and synergic effects with FGF-R activation to raise neuroblast production.

The authors thus revealed an new gateway suggesting possibilities for modulating neuroregenerative capacities in health and disease as if “Neuron Tells Stem Cells to Grow New Neurons”. (2)

Sources:

(1) Patricia Paez-Gonzalez, Brent Asrican, Erica Rodriguez, Chay T Kuo”Identification of distinct ChAT+ neurons and activity-dependent control of postnatal SVZ neurogenesis” (2014) Nature Neuroscience. DOI:10.1038/nn.3734
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

(2) Neuron Tells Stem Cells to Grow New Neurons –  Researchers identify first piece of new brain-repair circuit (2014) by  By Karl Leif Bates