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Adult neurogenesis in the subventricular zone is a topic of intense research, since it has vast implications for the fundamental understanding of the neurobiology of the brain and its potential to being harnessed for therapy in various neurological disorders. Investigation of adult neurogenesis has been complicated by the difficulties with characterization of neural stem cells in vivo. However, recent single-cell transcriptomic studies provide more detailed information on marker expression in neural stem cells and their neuronal lineage, which hopefully will result in a more unified discussion. Regulation of the multiple biological steps in adult neurogenesis comprises intrinsic mechanisms as well as extrinsic factors which together orchestrate the process. In this review, we describe the regulating factors and their cellular sources in the physiological condition and provide an overview of the regulating factors mediating stroke-induced stimulation of neurogenesis in the subventricular zone. While there is ongoing debate about the longevity of active post-natal neurogenesis in humans, the subventricular zone has the capacity to upregulate neurogenesis in response to ischemic stroke. Though, the stroke-induced neurogenesis in humans does not seem to translate into adequate functional recovery, which opens discussion about potential treatment strategies to harness this neuroregenerative response. Various therapeutic approaches are explored in preclinical and clinical studies to target endogenous neurogenesis of which some are discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) is an autologous platelet concentrate, consisting of a fibrin matrix enriched with platelets, leukocytes and a plethora of cytokines and growth factors. Since L-PRF is produced bedside from whole blood without the use of an anti-coagulant, it is becoming a popular adjuvant in regenerative medicine. While other types of platelet concentrates have been described to stimulate blood vessel formation, little is known about the angiogenic capacities of L-PRF. Therefore, this study aimed to fully characterize the angiogenic potential of L-PRF. With an antibody array, the growth factors released by L-PRF were determined and high levels of CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR-2) ligands and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were found. L-PRF induced in vitro key steps of the angiogenic process: endothelial proliferation, migration and tube formation. In addition, we could clearly demonstrate that L-PRF is able to induce blood vessel formation in vivo, the chorioallantoic membrane assay. In conclusion, we could demonstrate the angiogenic capacity of L-PRF both in vitro and in vivo, underlying the clinical potential of this easy-to-use platelet concentrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]