FGF modulates the PDGF-driven pathway of oligodendrocyte development.
PDGF promotes the growth of oligodendrocyte type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) glial progenitor cells and allows their timely differentiation into oligodendrocytes, the CNS myelin-forming cells. We demonstrate that basic FGF is a potent mitogen for brain O-2A progenitor cells, but blocks their differentiation into oligodendrocytes. Treatment with basic FGF also influences the level of expression of PDGF receptors on O-2A progenitor cells. These cells express only the alpha chain PDGF receptor, and the levels of PDGF alpha receptors decrease as the cells differentiate. In contrast, basic FGF maintains a high level of functionally responsive PDGF alpha receptors in O-2A progenitors. Thus basic FGF activates a signaling pathway that can positively regulate PDGF receptors in O-2A progenitor cells. In this way basic FGF or an FGF-like factor may modulate the production of myelin-forming cells in the CNS.
McKinnon
R D
RD
Lab of Viral and Molecular Pathogenesis NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Matsui
T
T
Dubois-Dalcq
M
M
Aaronson
S A
SA
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004247:DNA; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor