Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Perception and Action Unit, F-75015, Paris, France.
Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire Psychiatrie Paris 15, GHU Paris Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Paris, France.
Mol Psychiatry. 2024 Aug;29(8):2527-2542. doi: 10.1038/s41380-024-02504-w. Epub 2024 Mar 18.
In most mammals, new neurons are not only produced during embryogenesis but also after birth. Soon after adult neurogenesis was discovered, the influence of recruiting new neurons on cognitive functions, especially on memory, was documented. Likewise, the late process of neuronal production also contributes to affective functions, but this outcome was recognized with more difficulty. This review covers hypes and hopes of discovering the influence of newly-generated neurons on brain circuits devoted to affective functions. If the possibility of integrating new neurons into the adult brain is a commonly accepted faculty in the realm of mammals, the reluctance is strong when it comes to translating this concept to humans. Compiling data suggest now that new neurons are derived not only from stem cells, but also from a population of neuroblasts displaying a protracted maturation and ready to be engaged in adult brain circuits, under specific signals. Here, we discuss the significance of recruiting new neurons in the adult brain circuits, specifically in the context of affective outcomes. We also discuss the fact that adult neurogenesis could be the ultimate cellular process that integrates elements from both the internal and external environment to adjust brain functions. While we must be critical and beware of the unreal promises that Science could generate sometimes, it is important to continue exploring the potential of neural recruitment in adult primates. Reporting adult neurogenesis in humankind contributes to a new vision of humans as mammals whose brain continues to develop throughout life. This peculiar faculty could one day become the target of treatment for mental health, cognitive disorders, and elderly-associated diseases. The vision of an adult brain which never stops integrating new neurons is a real game changer for designing new therapeutic interventions to treat mental disorders associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and social costs.
在大多数哺乳动物中，新神经元不仅在胚胎发生期间产生，而且在出生后也会产生。成年神经发生被发现后不久，就有文献记录了招募新神经元对认知功能（尤其是记忆）的影响。同样，神经元产生的后期过程也有助于情感功能，但这一结果的认识更为困难。这篇综述涵盖了发现新产生的神经元对情感功能相关脑回路的影响的炒作和希望。如果说在哺乳动物领域，将新神经元整合到成年大脑中的可能性是一种被普遍接受的能力，那么将这一概念转化到人类身上的意愿就非常强烈。综合数据表明，新神经元不仅来自于干细胞，而且还来自于一群具有延长成熟过程并准备在特定信号下参与成年大脑回路的神经母细胞。在这里，我们讨论了在成年大脑回路中招募新神经元的意义，特别是在情感结果方面。我们还讨论了这样一个事实，即成年神经发生可能是整合内部和外部环境元素以调节大脑功能的最终细胞过程。虽然我们必须保持批判态度，警惕科学有时会产生的不切实际的承诺，但继续探索成年灵长类动物中神经募集的潜力仍然很重要。在人类中报告成年神经发生有助于将人类视为一种大脑在整个生命周期中持续发育的哺乳动物。这种特殊的能力有朝一日可能成为治疗心理健康、认知障碍和与老年相关疾病的目标。成年大脑不断整合新神经元的愿景，对于设计新的治疗干预措施来治疗与大量发病率、死亡率和社会成本相关的精神障碍来说，是一个真正的游戏规则改变者。
