Growth factors: can they promote neurogenesis?

Cortical development is a complex process in which extrinsic and intrinsic factors modulate the sequential generation of neurons and glia. Following successive rounds of division, precursors become determined along a neuronal or glial lineage prior to cell cycle exit and differentiation. Although the influence of growth factors in cell fate specification is not new, until recently little was known about the signaling pathways by which they regulate neuronal differentiation. Menard and colleagues have examined this issue and have demonstrated a role for the MEK-C/EBP (mitogen-activated-protein-kinase kinase and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein) pathway in the promotion of growth factor-mediated neurogenesis.