Subventricular zone radial glial cells maintain inhibitory neuron production in the human brain

Science 2026

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Authors: Longzhong Jia, X. Li, Yiming Yan, Linhe Xu, Jianbin Guo, Weichao Wang, Weirong Zhang, Lianyan Li, Borui Shang, Yiwei Zhang, Yashan Dang, Yuyan Zeng
+11 more Zhiyan Liao, Ruijuan Liang, Li Gu, Chenyi He, Zhen Long, Hanqing Hou, Yuhan Zhou, Mingchao Yan, Wei Huang, L C Zhu, Da Mi
DOI: 10.1126/science.adw1803
Cited by: 2
References: 84

Abstract

The number and diversity of inhibitory neurons (INs) increased substantially during mammalian brain evolution. However, the generative mechanisms of the vast repertoire of human INs remain elusive. We performed spatial and single-cell transcriptomics of human medial ganglionic eminence (hMGE), a pivotal source of cortical and subpallial INs, and built the trajectories of hMGE-derived cells during brain development. We identified spatiotemporally and molecularly segregated progenitor cell populations fated to produce distinct IN types. We uncovered an evolutionarily distinct progenitor cell type in the hMGE subventricular zone that maintained the production of INs and glial cells throughout human brain development. Our findings reveal evolutionarily distinct features of IN generation and shed light on the distinct mechanisms underlying human brain development.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics Neural dynamics and brain function

Publication details

Journal / source
Science
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Volume
391
Issue
6782
Pages
eadw1803–eadw1803
Publication date
15 January 2026
Language
EN