About this Research Topic
Neural stem cells remain in two neurogenic niches of the adult brain, the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ). Neural stem cells of the SVZ are a source of neuronal and glial progenitors during the postnatal period and adulthood and are probably reminiscent of the radial glia from which neurons and macroglia are generated during embryonic brain development. Recent studies have reported that glioblastomas, the most aggressive and malignant form of brain cancer, may originate from mutated neural stem cells of the SVZ that leave the niche and migrate over long distances. Indeed, there are numerous molecules involved in the biology of SVZ neural stem cells that are also instrumental in glioblastoma development. These include cytoskeletal proteins, telomerase, tumor suppressor proteins, transcription factors, and growth factors. Genes encoding these molecules are frequently mutated in glioblastoma cells.
With this Research Topic, we aim to give an overview of SVZ neural stem cell biology, their role in adult neurogenesis, and their potentiality to become the cell of origin of glioblastomas. We would like to welcome submissions in the form of Original Research articles, Reviews and/or Mini-Reviews focused, but not limited to studies dealing with:
1) Links between SVZ neural stem cells and glioma stem cells.
2) Specific cues of the niches that might determine glioblastoma development.
3) Similarities and differences between neural stem cells of the SVZ and the hippocampus (which do not generate tumors).
4) Therapeutic strategies directed to the cell of origin of glioblastoma.
With this Research Topic, we aim to give an overview of SVZ neural stem cell biology, their role in adult neurogenesis, and their potentiality to become the cell of origin of glioblastomas. We would like to welcome submissions in the form of Original Research articles, Reviews and/or Mini-Reviews focused, but not limited to studies dealing with:
1) Links between SVZ neural stem cells and glioma stem cells.
2) Specific cues of the niches that might determine glioblastoma development.
3) Similarities and differences between neural stem cells of the SVZ and the hippocampus (which do not generate tumors).
4) Therapeutic strategies directed to the cell of origin of glioblastoma.
Keywords: Glioma stem cells, neural stem cells, neurogenic niches, glioblastoma, microenvironment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
