Postnatal/adult neural stem cells (NSCs) within the rodent subventricular/subependymal zone (SVZ/SEZ) generate Doublecortin (DCX)+ neuroblasts that migrate and integrate into olfactory bulb circuitry1,2. Continuous production of neuroblasts is controlled by SVZ microenvironmental niche3,4. It is generally believed that enhancing neurogenic activities of endogenous NSCs may provide needed therapeutic options for disease states and after brain injury. However, SVZ NSCs can also differentiate into astrocytes. It remains unclear if there are conditions that favor astrogenesis over neurogenesis in the SVZ niche, and if astrocytes produced there exhibit different properties from others in the brain. We have uncovered that SVZ-generated astrocytes express high levels of Thrombospondin-4 (Thbs4)5,6, a secreted homopentameric glycoprotein, in contrast to cortical astrocytes which are Thbs4low. We found that localized photothrombotic/ischemic cortical injury initiates a marked increase in Thbs4hi astrocyte production from the postnatal SVZ niche. Tamoxifen-inducible nestin-CreERtm4 lineage-tracing demonstrated that it is these SVZ-generated Thbs4hi astrocytes, and not DCX+ neuroblasts, that home-in on the injured cortex. This robust post-injury astrogenic response required SVZ Notch activation, modulated by Thbs4 via direct Notch1 receptor binding and endocytosis to activate downstream signals, including increased Nfia transcription factor expression important for glia production7. Consequently, Thbs4KO/KO animals showed severe defects in cortical injury-induced SVZ astrogenesis, instead producing cells expressing DCX from SVZ to the injury sites. These alterations in cellular responses resulted in abnormal glial scar formation after injury, and significantly increased microvascular hemorrhage into the brain parenchyma of Thbs4KO/KO animals. Taken together, these findings have significant implications for post-injury applications of endogenous and transplanted NSCs in the therapeutic setting, as well as disease states where Thbs family members play important roles8,9.

SUMMARY The rodent subventricular/subependymal zone (SVZ/SEZ) houses neural stem cells (NSCs) that generate olfactory bulb interneurons. It is unclear how the SVZ environment sustains neuronal production into adulthood. We discovered that the adapter molecule Ankyrin-3 (Ank3) is specifically upregulated in radial glia destined to become SVZ ependymal niche cells, but not in NSCs, and is required for SVZ assembly through progenitor lateral adhesion. Furthermore, we found that Ank3 expression is controlled by Foxj1, a transcriptional regulator of multicilia formation, and genetic deletion of this pathway led to complete loss of SVZ niche structure. In its absence, radial glia continued to transition into postnatal NSCs. However, inducible ependymal deletion of Foxj1-Ank3 after SVZ niche assembly resulted in dramatic depletion of neurogenesis. Targeting a novel pathway regulating ependymal organization/assembly and showing its requirement for new neuron production, our results have important implications for environmental control of adult neurogenesis and harvesting NSCs for replacement therapy.

Postnatal/adult SVZ neurogenesis is believed to be primarily controlled by neural stem cell (NSC)-intrinsic mechanisms, interacting with extracellular/niche-driven cues. Although behavioral paradigms and disease states have suggested possibilities for higher-level inputs, it is currently unknown if neural activity patterns from discrete circuits can directly regulate SVZ neurogenesis. We have identified a previously undescribed population of ChAT+ neurons residing within the rodent SVZ neurogenic niche. These neurons showed morphological and functional differences from neighboring striatal counterparts, and released acetylcholine locally in activity-dependent fashion. Optogenetic inhibition and stimulation of subependymal ChAT+ neurons in vivo showed that they are necessary and sufficient to control neurogenic proliferation. Furthermore, whole-cell recordings and biochemical experiments revealed direct SVZ NSC responses to local acetylcholine release, synergizing with FGF receptor activation to increase neuroblast production. These results uncovered an unknown gateway connecting SVZ neurogenesis to neuronal activity-dependent control, and possibilities for modulating neuroregenerative capacities in health and disease.