Novel Chiral 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives Inducing Astrocyte Differentiation of Rat Fetal Neural Stem Cells

摘要

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes. The primary focus of research on NSCs has been their neuronal differentiation to treat neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Many efforts have been made to drive NSCs toward a neuronal fate, not only using transcription factors but also small molecules. However, there have been only a few studies reporting the differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes. Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the brain. Astrocytes are found to be multifunctional cells that play critical roles in the development of neurons, maintenance of cellular homeostasis, and energy supply. Furthermore, they form in the brain together with pericytes, endothelial cells, and adjacent neurons the blood-brain barrier. As the knowledge about the role of astrocytes expanded, the importance of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases started to emerge. Thus, neuroscience research might benefit from small molecules that regulate the fate of NSCs.