Murine oligodendroglial cells express nerve growth factor.
The studies reported here present evidence for the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by an oligodendroglial cell line and of NGF by oligodendrocytes in mouse primary culture. An immortalized oligodendroglial cell line (N19) expressing markers for immature oligodendrocytes stimulated PC12 cells to elaborate processes. Polymerase chain reaction analysis with degenerate primers indicated that the N19 cells expressed the mRNAs for the neurotrophic factors NGF and BDNF. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the N19 cells expressed the 1.3-kb NGF mRNA and the 1.4- and 4-kb BDNF mRNAs. In situ hybridization histochemistry identified the presence of NGF mRNAs in 9-day primary oligodendroglial cultures. Combined immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry colocalized NGF mRNA within primary cultured cells that immunostained for the oligodendrocyte marker galactocerebroside (GC). Double-immunofluorescence analysis also colocalized NGF protein within GC+ cells and within A2B5+ cells, a marker for oligodendrocyte progenitors. These results show that oligodendroglia and their precursor cells can express the neurotrophic factor NGF. They suggest that cells in the oligodendrocyte lineage may play an active role in neurite extension through fiber tracts in addition to myelination.
Byravan
S
S
Mental Retardation Research Center, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90024.
Foster
L M
LM
Phan
T
T
Verity
A N
AN
Campagnoni
A T
AT
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001483:Base Sequence; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017931:DNA Primers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger