Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have discovered how stem cells make decisions about their fate. The findings, published in the journal Nature, could lead to new ways to treat diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can develop into any type of cell in the body. They are found in the embryo and in some adult tissues. Stem cells make decisions about their fate based on a variety of factors, including the signals they receive from their environment and their own internal genetic program.

In the study, the UCSF researchers focused on a type of stem cell called a neural stem cell. Neural stem cells can develop into neurons, the cells that make up the brain and spinal cord. The researchers found that neural stem cells make decisions about their fate based on the levels of two proteins, Notch and Delta.

When the levels of Notch are high, neural stem cells become neurons. When the levels of Delta are high, neural stem cells remain stem cells. The researchers also found that the levels of Notch and Delta are controlled by a variety of factors, including the signals that neural stem cells receive from their environment.

The findings of the study provide new insights into how stem cells make decisions about their fate. This information could lead to new ways to treat diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. For example, it may be possible to develop drugs that target the Notch and Delta proteins and thereby control the fate of stem cells.

"This study provides a framework for understanding how stem cells make decisions about their fate," said Dr. Arturo Alvarez-Buylla, the senior author of the study. "This information could lead to new ways to treat diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders."

Source: University of California, San Francisco