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Study Identifies Dividing Neural Progenitor Cells in Adult Human Hippocampus

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, machine learning alongside spatial transcriptomics uncover ongoing neuron formation in the adult dentate gyrus

There were also large variations between individuals – some adult humans had many neural progenitor cells, others hardly any at all. Credit: Neuroscience News
Brain neuron illustration

Overview

  • The research published in Science detected proliferating neural progenitor cells marked by Ki67 in hippocampal tissue from donors ranging from newborns to 78-year-olds
  • Scientists traced multiple stages of neuronal development by combining single-nucleus RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, machine learning and spatial transcriptomics
  • All identified progenitor cells and immature neurons were mapped to the dentate gyrus, a region critical for memory formation
  • Analysis revealed substantial individual variation in progenitor cell abundance, pointing to personalized neurogenic capacity in adults
  • These findings provide a foundation for developing regenerative therapies aimed at boosting neurogenesis in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders