Human neural progenitor cells display limited cytotoxicity and increased oligodendrogenesis during inflammation

Dear Editor,

The ability to cultivate and expand neural stem and progenitor cells introduced a new therapeutic prospective for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson disease, stroke, Alzheimer disease and multiple sclerosis.^{1, 2, 3} The inflammatory environment surrounding the injured areas during brain damage can be deleterious for the survival of neurons and oligodendrocytes. In contrast, endogenous neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are attracted to the site of lesion where they survive and proliferate, perhaps as part of a restoring mechanism.⁴ We have demonstrated that the ability of NPCs to survive in the context of unfavorable microenvironment results from the absence of caspase 8 and the overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein PED/PEA-15.⁵ Such a double level of protection is most likely responsible for the survival of NPCs during brain damage, which is often characterized by the presence of proinflammatory cytokines and death receptor ligands.

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