Basic fibroblast growth factor induces cell migration and proliferation after glia-specific gene transfer in mice.
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is overexpressed in most high-grade human gliomas, implying that it is involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors. To assess the biological effect of inappropriate production of bFGF in normal astrocytes, we developed a system for glia-specific gene transfer in transgenic mice. A transgene encoding the receptor for subgroup A avian leukosis virus and controlled by the astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter permits efficient glia-specific transfer of genes carried by subgroup A avian leukosis virus vectors. With this system, we have demonstrated that bFGF induces proliferation and migration of glial cells in vivo, without the induction of tumors.
Holland
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Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. eholland@nhgri.nih.gov
Varmus
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D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics; D001355:Alpharetrovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D030161:Avian Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D030161:Avian Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C088745:Tva receptor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase