摘要Background Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a self-renewing and multipotent population of the central nervous system (CNS),which are active during development and maintain homeostasis and tissue integrity throughout life.Microglias are an immune cell population resident in the CNS,which have crucial physiological functions in the developing and adult CNS.This study aimed to investigate that whether microglia co-cultured with NSCs could promote astrogliogenesis from NSCs.Methods Microglia and NSCs were co-cultured in 24-well insert plates.NSCs were plated in the bottom of the well and microglia in the insert.Fluorescent staining,Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to determine the effect of microglia on NSCs differentiation.Results Co-culture of microglia and NSCs promoted astrogliogenesis from NSCs.Several key genes,such as Notch 1,Notch 2,Notch 3,Hes 5,and NRSFwera downregulated,while the critical genes Id1 and Id2 were upregulated.BMP2 and FGF2 were upregulated.Conclusion Microglias act as a regulator of NSCs astrogliogenesis.