Amphiregulin is a mitogen for adult neural stem cells.
Neurons are continuously generated from stem cells in the hippocampus and along the lateral ventricles in the adult brain. Neural stem cells can be propagated in vitro in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) or fibroblast growth factor-2. We report here that amphiregulin, a growth factor related to EGF, is a mitogen for adult mouse neural stem cells in vitro and displays potency similar to that of EGF. Neural stem cell cultures can be initiated and the cells propagated as efficiently in the presence of amphiregulin only as with EGF. Furthermore, we show that amphiregulin is expressed in the choroid plexus of the ventricular system and in the hippocampus in the adult brain, suggesting that amphiregulin may participate in the regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the adult brain.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical Nobel Institute, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anna
A
Falk
Jonas
J
Frisén
D000367:Age Factors; D066258:Amphiregulin; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000166:cytology; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*
D066258:Amphiregulin; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C587849:Areg protein, mouse; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008934:Mitogens; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins