CNS stem cells

The research in Dr. Lillien's laboratory addresses the mechanisms that regulate proliferation, cell fate determination, and migration in the developing cerebral cortex and retina. Environmental signals and intrinsic differences among progenitor cells contribute to the regulation of these processes, and their relative contributions are studied by using retrovirus mediated gene transfer. We are particularly interested in defining the molecular basis of intrinsic differences among neural stem cells. This information will facilitate the design of stem cells that are optimal for specific clinical applications.

Students in Dr. Lillien's laboratory will have the opportunity to construct recombinant retroviruses expressing wild type and mutant genes, infect progenitor cells in the cortex or retina of rats and mice in vitro and in vivo with these viruses, generate genetically engineered CNS stem cells and transplant them into embryonic and postnatal forebrain.

Sample Publications:

Akt1 interacts with epidermal growth factor receptors and hedgehog signaling to increase stem/transit amplifying cells in the embryonic mouse cortex.
Sinor-Anderson A, Lillien L.
Dev Neurobiol. 2011 Feb 10. doi: 10.1002/dneu.20878. [Epub ahead of print]

Environmental signals elicit multiple responses in dorsal telencephalic progenitors by threshold-dependent mechanisms.
Lillien L, Gulacsi A.
Cereb Cortex. 2006 Jul;16 Suppl 1:i74-81.

Attraction or repulsion: a matter of individual taste?
Wells A, Lillien L.
ci STKE. 2004 Oct 5;2004(253):pe47.

Akt-1 expression level regulates CNS precursors.
Sinor AD, Lillien L.
J Neurosci. 2004 Sep 29;24(39):8531-41.

Sonic hedgehog and bone morphogenetic protein regulate interneuron development from dorsal telencephalic progenitors in vitro.
Gulacsi A, Lillien L.
J Neurosci. 2003 Oct 29;23(30):9862-72.

Wnt regulation of progenitor maturation in the cortex depends on Shh or fibroblast growth factor 2.
Viti J, Gulacsi A, Lillien L.
J Neurosci. 2003 Jul 2;23(13):5919-27.

Epidermal growth factor receptors control competence to interpret leukemia inhibitory factor as an astrocyte inducer in developing cortex.
Viti J, Feathers A, Phillips J, Lillien L.
J Neurosci. 2003 Apr 15;23(8):3385-93.

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