title: Neurotrophins differentially regulate the survival and morphological complexity of human CNS model neurons.
abstract: To determine the effect of neurotrophins on the survival and morphological differentiation of CNS neurons, we examined NT2-N cells, which provide a unique culture model for terminally differentiated and polar human neurons. Here we report the development of conditions for the long-term culture of NT2-N cells in low density and in chemically defined medium. We show that NT2-N cells express rRNAs for TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC tyrosine kinase receptors and the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75NTR). All members of the nerve growth factor-related family of neurotrophic factors promote neuronal survival in long-term cultures with approximately 1 ng/ml for half-maximal survival. At high concentrations (>20 ng/ml), the neurotrophins reversed the survival-promoting effect as judged by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] conversion. In contrast to the uniform effect of all neurotrophins on neuronal survival, brain-derived neurotrophic factor selectively induced an increased dendritic complexity. These results demonstrate that NT2-N cells provide a useful model to analyze the effect of neurotrophins on the survival and morphological differentiation of CNS neurons in vitro. In addition, the data indicate that neuronal survival and the development of morphological complexity are differentially regulated in a multireceptor context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piontek
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kempf
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brandt
mesh_terms: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D003470:Culture Media; D003712:Dendrites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D003470:Culture Media; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C073922:neurotrophin 4