Brain scaffolding cell development

Radial glia. Image: Götz group

Radial glial cells are the neural progenitors of the developing CNS and have long radial processes that guide radially migrating neurons. The integrity of the radial glial scaffold, in particular proper adhesion between the endfeet of radial processes and the pial basement membrane (BM), is important for the cellular organization of the central nervous system (CNS), as indicated by evidence emerging from the developing cortex. The study unravels a novel molecular mechanism that deploys CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 for the maintenance of radial glial scaffold integrity, which in turn safeguards the CNS/PNS boundary during spinal cord development.

Reference: Zhu Y, Matsumoto T, Nagasawa T, Mackay F, Murakami F. Chemokine signaling controls integrity of radial glial scaffold in developing spinal cord and consequential proper position of boundary cap cells. J Neurosci. 2015 Jun 17;35(24):9211-24. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0156-15.2015.