Novel small molecules as GSK-3β inhibitors in human neural progenitor cells

GSK-3β as the key enzyme of Wnt/β-catenin pathway is involved in various processes during the neuronal differentiation of stem and progenitor cells. Therefore small molecules are of great interest as they might provide new pharmacological tools to influence and study underlying mechanism. Thus, we developed a multi-level screening system to identify novel GSK-3β inhibitors. The influence on Wnt/β-catenin signaling was evaluated in human neural progenitor cells. New compounds raised the neuronal differentiation, whereat it was shown that the effect was due antagonistic action at GSK-3β.