title: The p75 receptor is required for BDNF-induced differentiation of neural precursor cells.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treated neurospheres from fetal forebrain contain multipotential cells capable of neuronal, astrocytic, and oligodendroglial differentiation. These neural precursor cells express the TrkB as well as the neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR), suggesting that they are BDNF responsive. In this study, we test whether the p75NTR plays a role in the differentiation of these neural precursor cells in vitro. Activation of the TrkB and the p75NTR by the addition of BDNF facilitates neuronal commitment and marked neurite genesis. However, no promotion of neuronal commitment by BDNF was observed in the neural precursor cells from mice carrying a mutation in the p75NTR gene. In addition, we observed a significant increase in the number of nestin-positive cells and the proliferation of the cells lacking functional p75NTR. These findings suggest that the p75NTR is required for proper neuronal fate decision as well as the differentiation of the neural precursor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosomi
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tohyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000502:physiology; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020813:Receptor, trkB