Coordinated control of self-renewal and differentiation of neural stem cells by Myc and the p19(ARF)–p53 pathway

The modes of proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) are coordinately controlled during development, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that the protooncoprotein Myc and the tumor suppressor p19(ARF) regulate both NSC self-renewal and their neuronal and glial fate in a developmental stage–dependent manner. Early-stage NSCs have low p19(ARF) expression and retain a high self-renewal and neurogenic capacity, whereas late-stage NSCs with higher p19(ARF) expression possess a lower self-renewal capacity and predominantly generate glia. Overexpression of Myc or inactivation of p19(ARF) reverts the properties of late-stage NSCs to those of early-stage cells. Conversely, inactivation of Myc or forced p19(ARF) expression attenuates self-renewal and induces precocious gliogenesis through modulation of the responsiveness to gliogenic signals. These actions of p19(ARF) in NSCs are mainly mediated by p53. We propose that opposing actions of Myc and the p19(ARF)–p53 pathway have important functions in coordinated developmental control of self-renewal and cell fate choices in NSCs.