REGULATION OF GLIOGENESIS IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM BY THE JAK-STAT SIGNALING PATHWAY

A mechanism by which members of the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) -leukemia inhibitory factor cytokine family regulate gliogenesis in th e developing mammalian central nervous system was characterized, Activ ation of the CNTF receptor promoted differentiation of cerebral cortic al precursor cells into astrocytes and inhibited differentiation of co rtical precursors along a neuronal lineage, Although CNTF stimulated b oth the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) and Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in cortical precursor cells, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway selective ly enhanced differentiation of these precursors along a glial lineage, These findings suggest that cytokine activation of the JAK-STAT signa ling pathway may be a mechanism by which cell fate is controlled durin g mammalian development.