The effects of oxidative stress on the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs)

• Grant number: 13/15331-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Kil Sun Lee
• Grantee: Jessica Mayara Curti
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic illnesses that present multiple etiologies. Currently, there are not efficient diagnostic methods that systematically classify the causes neither effective treatment that reverses the symptoms. The use of neural stem cells (NSCs) in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases has been extensively investigated. However, the regenerative therapy is not practiced yet due to the insufficient knowledge about self-renewal capacity, migration and differentiation into several types of cells under normal and pathological conditions. Several pathological processes may be triggered by oxidative metabolites, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). These molecules modify the structure and function of several biomolecules, stimulating the degradation pathways, including autophagy. It is known that autophagy is also stimulated during the differentiation of NSCs. Both cases employ similar molecular machinery, raising doubts if the oxidative stress could also induce NSCs differentiation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of oxidative stress on autophagy pathways and its relation with differentiation or death of NSCs. This study may contribute to a better understanding of neural stem cell biology and the use of cell therapy against neurodegenerative diseases.