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Troy+ brain stem cells cycle through quiescence and regulate their number by sensing niche occupancy.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Basak, Onur 
Krieger, Teresa G 
Muraro, Mauro J 
Wiebrands, Kay 
Stange, Daniel E 

Abstract

The adult mouse subependymal zone provides a niche for mammalian neural stem cells (NSCs). However, the molecular signature, self-renewal potential, and fate behavior of NSCs remain poorly defined. Here we propose a model in which the fate of active NSCs is coupled to the total number of neighboring NSCs in a shared niche. Using knock-in reporter alleles and single-cell RNA sequencing, we show that the Wnt target Tnfrsf19/Troy identifies both active and quiescent NSCs. Quantitative analysis of genetic lineage tracing of individual NSCs under homeostasis or in response to injury reveals rapid expansion of stem-cell number before some return to quiescence. This behavior is best explained by stochastic fate decisions, where stem-cell number within a shared niche fluctuates over time. Fate mapping proliferating cells using a Ki67iresCreER allele confirms that active NSCs reversibly return to quiescence, achieving long-term self-renewal. Our findings suggest a niche-based mechanism for the regulation of NSC fate and number.

Description

Keywords

cellular dynamics, ki67, modeling, neural stem cells, single-cell sequencing

Journal Title

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0027-8424
1091-6490

Volume Title

115

Publisher

National Academy of Sciences
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (098357/Z/12/Z)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_12009)
This work was supported by NIRM/ Clevers and Stichting Vrienden van het Hubrecht (O.B.), EU/232814-StemCellMark and Skolkovo 077 MPA (J.H.v.E.), NIH/MIT Subaward 5710002735 (to D.E.S.), KWF/PF-HUBR 2007-3956 and Stichting Vrienden van het Hubrecht (M.v.d.W.), European Research Council Advanced Grant ERC-AdG 294325-GeneNoiseControl (to K.W. and A.v.O.), and Wellcome Trust Grant 098357/Z/12/Z (to B.D.S.).