title: Fibroblast growth factor-9 inhibits astrocyte differentiation of adult mouse neural progenitor cells.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factor-9 (FGF9) is expressed in the CNS and is reported to be a mitogen for glial cells, to promote neuronal survival, and to retard oligodendrocyte differentiation. Here we examined the effects of FGF9 on the differentiation, survival, and proliferation of adult neural progenitor cells derived from the adult mouse subventricular zone. FGF9 by itself induced neurosphere proliferation, but its effects were modest compared with those of epidermal growth factor and FGF2. When neurospheres were dissociated and plated for differentiation, FGF9 increased total cell number over time in a dose-dependent manner. Ki67 immunostaining and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation indicated that this was at least partially due to the continued presence of proliferative nestin-positive neural progenitor cells and betaIII tubulin-positive neuronal precursors. FGF9 also promoted cell survival as indicated by a decreased number of TUNEL-positive cells over time. Assessment of differentiation showed that FGF9 increased neuron generation that reflected the increase in total cell number; however, the percentage of progenitor cells differentiating into neurons was slightly decreased. FGF9 had a modest effect on oligodendrocyte generation, although it appeared to slow the maturation of oligodenrocytes at higher concentrations. The most marked effect on differentiation was an almost total lack of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes up to 7 days following FGF9 addition, indicating that astrocyte differentiation was strongly inhibited. Total inhibition required prolonged treatment, although a 1-hr pulse was sufficient for partial inhibition, and bone morphogenic protein-4 could partially overcome the FGF9 inhibition of astrocyte differentiation. FGF9 therefore has multiple effects on adult neural precursor cell function, enhancing neuronal precursor proliferation and specifically inhibiting GFAP expression.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turbic
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitrovic
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Turnley
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D019081:O Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019081:O Antigens; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine