title: Growth factor regulation of mouse primordial germ cell development.
abstract: This chapter focused on three key regulators of PGC survival and proliferation; SLF, LIF, and bFGF. The survival of all animal cells may require multiple polypeptide factors and PGCs seem to be no exception (Fig. 7). A number of lines of evidence suggest that membrane-bound forms of SLF may be required for PGC survival. These data suggest an exquisite mechanism for controlling both PGC survival and migration. Thus PGCs that stray from the normal migratory pathway might be eliminated through programmed cell death. SLF, together with LIF, can stimulate PGC proliferation in culture and it seems likely that LIF or a related cytokine may function in vivo to regulate PGC survival and proliferation. Animals doubly deficient in LIF and its relatives may soon allow the roles of these cytokines in PGC development to be determined. Although bFGF is a potent PGC mitogen in vitro, whether PGCs ever encounter bFGF in vivo remains questionable since in culture it alters both the proliferative and developmental potential of PGCs. TGF beta or MIS may be important negative regulators of PGC development, and mice lacking these factors should allow their role in PGC development to be assessed.
authors.affiliation: Mammalian Genetics Laboratory, ABL-Basic Research Program, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Maryland 21702.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Donovan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002678:Chimera; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D016184:Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000502:physiology; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006133:Growth Substances; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; C507838:Lif protein, mouse; D008222:Lymphokines; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016184:Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases