Novel pluripotential neural progenitor lines exhibiting rapid controlled differentiation to neurotransmitter receptor-expressing neurons and glia.
The immortalization of progenitor cells from embryonic murine hippocampus using oncogene-carrying retroviral vectors is described. Use of a vector encoding the oncogene v-myc results in lines of nestin-positive progenitor cells. Limited differentiation ensues if the cells are cultured in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In contrast, use of a vector in which the extracellular portion of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is fused to the neu tyrosine kinase generates lines of pluripotential nestin-positive progenitor cells, which differentiate upon withdrawal of EGF into neurons and glia. Differentiated neurons expressing action potentials and neurotransmitter receptors make up a high proportion of the cells. These cell lines are useful tools to investigate the characteristics of differentiating neurons and glia, as well as to screen neuroactive drugs. This work has been reported in preliminary form as an abstract (1996 Society for Neuroscience Abstract, #606.20, p. 1537).
Jung
M
M
Department of Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Krämer
E M
EM
Müller
T
T
Antonicek
H
H
Trotter
J
J
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020880:Neuregulins; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology; D016274:Oncogene Protein p55(v-myc) / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014162:Transfection
D006023:Glycoproteins; D008024:Ligands; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020880:Neuregulins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D016274:Oncogene Protein p55(v-myc); D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015222:Sodium Channels; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors