2014/07/08

Discovery of a protein that allows brain stem cells to generate new neurons

- A study conducted on mice, in which CIC bioGUNE is involved, has revealed that the MTP-MMP protein 'unblocks' this type of cell

- Understanding this process may help to find new approaches to combat neurodegenerative diseases.

- The research has been published in the prestigious Nature Cell Biology journal.

(Bilbao, July 2014).- A scientific study in which CIC bioGUNE, the Basque biosciences research center, participated, has discovered that the MT5-MMP protein 'unblocks' brain stem cells, which enables them to generate new cells to replace the old ones. Understanding this process through which brain cells are generated may open the door to the search for new therapeutic solutions to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease or to damage caused by trauma or stroke.

Our tissues are constantly being renewed thanks to stem cells, which generate new cells to replace old ones.When this cell phenomenon ceases to occur due to, for example, trauma or a degenerative process, our organs start degenerating, which may lead to the aforementioned neurodegenerative diseases.

In adults, stem cells are located in specific areas within the tissues, known as niches, where they are connected to the surrounding cells. Both types of cells are related and it is thought that this environment controls stem cell behaviour and therefore plays an important role in regulating the production of new cells.

This research, conducted in mice, has shown that there is a protein called MT5-MMP, which is capable of 'releasing' the stem cells from this control and enables them to be activated and produce new cells.

Stem cells are attached to niche cells by a protein called N-cadherin. The research in which CIC bioGUNE has taken part has discovered that the MT5-MMP protein is capable of cutting the protein that acts as a link between both types of cells -the aforementioned N-cadherin-, hence releasing the stem cells from the niche control.

The knowledge generated in this research may be extremely useful in regenerative medicine, where stem cells are used to produce new cells that repair damaged tissues. "Understanding the mechanisms that regulate the relations between stem cells and their environment is essential to know how our tissues are renewed and repaired", according to Robert Kypta, researcher at CIC bioGUNE.

"A better understanding of how brain stem cells are activated to produce new neurons may help us find ways of stimulating this process and help replace brain cells that are lost both during ageing and in neurodegenerative diseases or after stroke" explains Dr. Kypta.

In addition to CIC bioGUNE, the following organizations have participated in this research led by Isabel Fariñas, which has been published in the July edition of the prestigious scientific journal, Nature Cell Biology: the Center for Networked Biomedical Research into Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), the University of Valencia University, the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB) and the University of Oviedo.

- About CIC bioGUNE

The Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) is a biomedical research organization established by the Basque Government's Department of Industry in 2002. The main goal of this body, which is located at the Bizkaia Technology Park, is to make progress in basic research in the field of bioscience.

Reference:

MT5-MMP regulatesadult neural stemcellfunctionalquiescencethroughthecleavage of N-cadherin

Eva Porlan, Beatriz Martí-Prado, José Manuel Morante-Redolat, Antonella Consiglio, Ana C. Delgado, Robert Kypta, Carlos López-Otín, Martina Kirstein& Isabel Fariñas