Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Stem cells have been shown to differentiate into neuronal cells in vitro. But how do neuronal cells form synaptic connections after stem cell differentiation to achieve the information transfer function and what is the mechanism underlying synaptogenesis remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effects of proteins regulating the synaptogenesis by retrieving the experimental studies describing these proteins influencing synaptogenesis since 2000.
METHODS: A computer-based online retrieval of CNKI and PubMed databases was performed to search related papers using the key words synapse and synaptogenesis. After excluding repeated studies, 39 papers were included in the final analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The synaptogenesis can be divided into three related aspects: (1) formation of synaptic structure; (2) transition of some synapses from silent to active; (3) elimination of unnecessary synapses. Synaptogenesis associated proteins and their functions have been confirmed and preliminarily studied. These proteins include thrombospondins, synapse differentiation induced gene product, synaptic cell adhesion molecule, major histocompatibility complexⅠ, myocyte enhancer factor 2, and fragile X mental retardion protein. These proteins play a vital role in synapse formation, development and maturation.