title: PDGF mediates a neuron-astrocyte interaction in the developing retina.
abstract: Astrocytes invade the developing retina from the optic nerve head, over the axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). RGCs express the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain (PDGF-A) and retinal astrocytes the PDGF alpha-receptor (PDGFR alpha), suggesting that PDGF mediates a paracrine interaction between these cells. To test this, we inhibited PDGF signaling in the eye with a neutralizing anti-PDGFR alpha antibody or a soluble extracellular fragment of PDGFR alpha. These treatments inhibited development of the astrocyte network. We also generated transgenic mice that overexpress PDGF-A in RGCs. This resulted in hyperproliferation of astrocytes, which in turn induced excessive vasculogenesis. Thus, PDGF appears to be a link in the chain of cell-cell interactions responsible for matching numbers of neurons, astrocytes, and blood vessels during retinal development.
authors.affiliation: MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fruttiger
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Calver
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Mudhar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michalovich
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takakura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D019556:COS Cells; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor