Fig. 5.

OASIS-Gcm1 signaling is involved in demethylation of the Gfap promoter. Activation of Stat3 and Smads, and epigenetic regulation of the methylation status of the Gfap promoter, are essential for differentiation of NPCs into astrocytes. Stat3 and Smads are phosphorylated downstream of LIF and BMP2, and phosphorylated Stat3 and Smads bind to demethylated sites in the Gfap promoter to promote transcription of Gfap. OASIS-Gcm1 signaling does not alter the levels of phosphorylated Stat3 and Smads, but regulates the demethylation status of the Gfap promoter region