title: PDGF A chain homodimers drive proliferation of bipotential (O-2A) glial progenitor cells in the developing rat optic nerve.
abstract: The bipotential glial progenitor cells (O-2A progenitors), which during development of the rat optic nerve give rise to oligodendrocytes and type 2 astrocytes, are stimulated to divide in culture by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and there is evidence that PDGF is important for development of the O-2A cell lineage in vivo. We have visualized PDGF mRNA in the rat optic nerve by in situ hybridization, and its spatial distribution is compatible with the idea that type 1 astrocytes are the major source of PDGF in the nerve. We can detect mRNA encoding the A chain, but not the B chain of PDGF in the brain and optic nerve, suggesting that the major form of PDGF in the central nervous system is a homodimer of A chains (PDGF-AA). PDGF-AA is a more potent mitogen for O-2A progenitor cells than is PDGF-BB, while the reverse is true for human or rat fibroblasts. Fibroblasts display two types of PDGF receptors, type A receptors which bind to all three dimeric isoforms of PDGF, and type B receptors which bind PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB, but have low affinity for PDGF-AA. Our results suggest that O-2A progenitor cells possess predominantly type A receptors, and proliferate during development in response to PDGF-AA secreted by type 1 astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Collarini
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mosley
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Heldin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Westermark
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008934:Mitogens; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor