All Publications


  • Chromatin accessibility dynamics of neurogenic niche cells reveal defects in neural stem cell adhesion and migration during aging. Nature aging Yeo, R. W., Zhou, O. Y., Zhong, B. L., Sun, E. D., Navarro Negredo, P., Nair, S., Sharmin, M., Ruetz, T. J., Wilson, M., Kundaje, A., Dunn, A. R., Brunet, A. 2023

    Abstract

    The regenerative potential of brain stem cell niches deteriorates during aging. Yet the mechanisms underlying this decline are largely unknown. Here we characterize genome-wide chromatin accessibility of neurogenic niche cells in vivo during aging. Interestingly, chromatin accessibility at adhesion and migration genes decreases with age in quiescent neural stem cells (NSCs) but increases with age in activated (proliferative) NSCs. Quiescent and activated NSCs exhibit opposing adhesion behaviors during aging: quiescent NSCs become less adhesive, whereas activated NSCs become more adhesive. Old activated NSCs also show decreased migration in vitro and diminished mobilization out of the niche for neurogenesis in vivo. Using tension sensors, we find that aging increases force-producing adhesions in activated NSCs. Inhibiting the cytoskeletal-regulating kinase ROCK reduces these adhesions, restores migration in old activated NSCs in vitro, and boosts neurogenesis in vivo. These results have implications for restoring the migratory potential of NSCs and for improving neurogenesis in the aged brain.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s43587-023-00449-3

    View details for PubMedID 37443352

    View details for PubMedCentralID 4683085

  • Seeing is believing: old clones die young. Nature aging Zhou, O. Y., Brunet, A. 2023; 3 (4): 371-373

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s43587-023-00394-1

    View details for PubMedID 37117790

    View details for PubMedCentralID 6284110

  • Seeing is believing: old clones die young NATURE AGING Zhou, O. Y., Brunet, A. 2023
  • Brain Metastases from Endometrial Cancer: Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes, and Review of the Literature. World neurosurgery Bhambhvani, H. P., Zhou, O. n., Cattle, C. n., Taiwo, R. n., Diver, E. n., Gephart, M. H. 2020

    Abstract

    Brain metastases from endometrial cancer are rare and poorly described. We aimed to estimate the proportion of brain metastases at our institution that arose from endometrial cancer, and to detail clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes.We retrospectively identified and reviewed the charts of 30 patients with brain metastases from endometrial cancer seen at Stanford Hospital from 2008 to 2018.Among all patients with brain metastases, the proportion arising from endometrial cancer was 0.84%. Median age at diagnosis was 62 (range, 39 - 79), and median overall survival (OS) was 6.8 months (range, 1.0 month - 58.2 months). Most patients harbored endometrioid histology (53.3%), and some had concurrent metastases to lung (50.0%), bone (36.7%), and liver (20.0%). Median time from endometrial cancer diagnosis to brain metastasis development was 20.8 months (range, 1.4 months - 11.2 years), and the median number of brain metastases was 2 (range, 1 - 20). Patients with non-endometrioid histologies had more brain metastases than those with endometrioid histology (6.21 versus 2.44, p = 0.029). There was no difference in OS by histology.We describe the largest cohort to date of patients with brain metastases originating from endometrial cancer. These patients represent a small fraction of all brain metastasis patients and have poor prognoses. These data enable providers caring for patients with brain metastases from endometrial cancer to appropriately counsel their patients.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.087

    View details for PubMedID 33321250