Regulation of Basal and Injury-Induced Fate Decisions of Adult Neural Precursor Cells: Focus on SOCS2 and Related Signalling Pathways

Two decades ago it was discovered that the adult mammalian brain contains neural stem cells (NSCs) and neural precursor cells (NPCs) capable of producing new neurons and glial cells [1-3]. This has led to a great deal of research to understand the biology of these cells and to determine signalling pathways that can be targeted to promote repair of the dam‐ aged nervous system. There are two primary regions in the adult mammalian brain that contain adult NSCs/NPCs. These are the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral walls of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. NPC fate is regulated by intrinsic (e.g. transcription factors and signalling mediators) and extrinsic (e.g growth factors and extracellular matrix) factors which involve effects on prolif‐ eration, migration and differentiation of new neurons and glial cells.