Ke NY, Zhao TY, Wang WR, Qian YT, Liu C. Role of brahma-related gene 1/brahma-associated factor subunits in neural stem/progenitor cells and related neural developmental disorders. World J Stem Cells 2023; 15(4): 235-247 [PMID: 37181007 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i4.235]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Chao Liu, DPhil, Professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China. chaol1974@ahmu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Neurosciences
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Stem Cells. Apr 26, 2023; 15(4): 235-247 Published online Apr 26, 2023. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i4.235
Role of brahma-related gene 1/brahma-associated factor subunits in neural stem/progenitor cells and related neural developmental disorders
Nai-Yu Ke, Tian-Yi Zhao, Wan-Rong Wang, Yu-Tong Qian, Chao Liu
Nai-Yu Ke, Wan-Rong Wang, Yu-Tong Qian, The First Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
Nai-Yu Ke, Tian-Yi Zhao, Wan-Rong Wang, Yu-Tong Qian, Chao Liu, Institute of Stem cells and Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
Chao Liu, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
Author contributions: Ke NY and Zhao TY collected the data and wrote the manuscript; Wang WR and Qian YT collected the data; Liu C conceived the manuscript, collected the data, and wrote the manuscript.
Supported bythe Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province, No. 2008085MH251; Key Research and Development Project of Anhui Province, No. 202004J07020037; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 2021zhyx-C19; and National Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship training program, No. 202010366016.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest associated with any of the senior author or other coauthors contributed their efforts in this manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Chao Liu, DPhil, Professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China. chaol1974@ahmu.edu.cn
Received: December 24, 2022 Peer-review started: December 24, 2022 First decision: January 31, 2023 Revised: February 12, 2023 Accepted: March 20, 2023 Article in press: March 20, 2023 Published online: April 26, 2023
Abstract
Different fates of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) and their progeny are determined by the gene regulatory network, where a chromatin-remodeling complex affects synergy with other regulators. Here, we review recent research progress indicating that the BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) complex plays an important role in NSPCs during neural development and neural developmental disorders. Several studies based on animal models have shown that mutations in the BAF complex may cause abnormal neural differentiation, which can also lead to various diseases in humans. We discussed BAF complex subunits and their main characteristics in NSPCs. With advances in studies of human pluripotent stem cells and the feasibility of driving their differentiation into NSPCs, we can now investigate the role of the BAF complex in regulating the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of NSPCs. Considering recent progress in these research areas, we suggest that three approaches should be used in investigations in the near future. Sequencing of whole human exome and genome-wide association studies suggest that mutations in the subunits of the BAF complex are related to neurodevelopmental disorders. More insight into the mechanism of BAF complex regulation in NSPCs during neural cell fate decisions and neurodevelopment may help in exploiting new methods for clinical applications.
Core Tip: There are several reviews in the literature contributed to the role of BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) complex in neural cell specification and neural development diseases. We review recent progress indicating that BAF complex plays an important role in neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) during neural development and neural developmental disorders. More progresses in the role of BAF complex subunits in balancing self-renewal and differentiation of NSPCs and neurodevelopment could finally be involved in highlighting new methods for clinical application.
