Methods for Regulating Differentiation of Neural Cells and Uses Thereof (Englisch)

The present invention provides methods for promoting or suppressing differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells, for producing differentiated neural cells, and for isolating/purifying differentiated neural cells. Also provided are differentiated neural cells, cell populations and transgenic animals comprising same, and uses of same. The present invention further provides methods for treating nervous tissue degeneration, and for identifying an agent for use in treating nervous tissue degeneration. Additionally, the present invention provides a therapeutic composition, and methods for treating neural tumors using same. The present invention further provides methods for identifying agents which inhibit ATF5, agents identified by these methods, and uses of same. Also provided are methods for diagnosing neural tumors, for assessing the efficacy of therapy to treat neural tumors, and for assessing the prognosis of a subject who has a neural tumor. Finally, the present invention provides a kit for use in detecting a neural tumor.