Jean Hébert

Generating and regenerating the neocortex

Early in development, the brain starts off as a simple sheet of neuroepithelial cells. My lab is interested in understanding how this simple sheet of progenitor cells develops into the adult forebrain and in particular into the adult cerebral cortex, the part of our forebrains that we use for our highest cognitive and perceptual functions. Essential to this understanding is the identification of the signals that pattern the early forebrain and that regulate the proliferation, cell fate choices, and differentiation of neural stem cells and progenitor cells. The primary approach we are using to test the roles of candidate signaling molecules directly in vivo is a conditional genetic approach in the mouse using CRE/loxP technology. Our goals are: 1) to further characterize the roles and intracellular pathways of signaling molecules of the FGF, BMP, and WNT families in prenatal forebrain development; 2) to examine the roles of these factors at postnatal ages and in adult forebrain homeostasis; and 3) to establish paradigms to regenerate glutamatergic neurons in the adult neocortex using endogenous or transplanted neural precursors.

Selected Publications

Fernandes M, Hébert JM. (2008). The ups and downs of holoprosencephaly, dorsal versus ventral patterning forces. J. Clin. Gen. , 73: 413-423.

Hébert JM, Fishell G. (2008). The genetics of telencephalon patterning, some assembly required. Nat. Rev. Neurosci., 9: 678-685.

Paek H, Gutin G, Hébert JM. (2009). FGF signaling is strictly required to maintain early telencephalic precursor cell survival. Development 136: 2457-2465.

Kang W, Wong LC, Shi S, Hébert JM. (2009). The transition from radial glial to intermediate progenitor cell is inhibited by FGF signaling during corticogenesis. J. Neurosci. 29: 14571-14580.

Maier E, von Hofsten J, Nord H, Fernandes M, Paek H, Hébert JM, Gunhaga L. (2010). Opposing activities of FGF and BMP regulate the olfactory sensory versus respiratory epithelial cell fate decision. Development 137: 1601-1611.

Furusho M, Kaga Y, Ishii A, Hébert JM, Bansal R. (2011). FGF Signaling Is Required For The Generation Of Oligodendrocyte Progenitors From The Embryonic Forebrain. J. Neurosci. 31: 5055-5066.

Paek H, Hwang JY, Zukin RS, Hébert JM. (2011). β-catenin-dependent FGF signaling sustains cell survival in the anterior embryonic head by countering Smad4. Developmental Cell 20: 689-699.