Kuwahara, Akela, 2013-2014

Akela Kuwahara
Akela
Kuwahara

"VEGF signaling in adult neural progenitor cells"

Host lab: Tony Wyss-Coray
Stanford University

Adult neurogenesis is a highly regulated process through which the adult mammalian brain produces new neurons. Understanding the factors that regulate this process is important to our general knowledge of the adult brain, as well as neurodegenerative or neurological disease. Previous studies show that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) enhances neural progenitor cell proliferation, both in vitro and in vivo. The Wyss-Coray lab recently demonstrated that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) express significant levels of VEGF themselves, leading to the hypothesis that NPCs may contribute significantly to the neurogenic niche through VEGF signaling. In this study, we examine VEGF signaling in NPCs in vitro through the exogenous addition and removal of VEGF, and the inhibition of VEGF signaling. This study will complement other studies in the lab using an in vivo knockout model of NPC secreted VEGF by exploring the mechanisms of VEGF signaling in NPCs at a cellular level.