Effects of FGF-2 and EGF removal on the differentiation of mouse neural precursor cells.
Cell therapy for neurological disorders has advanced, and neural precursor cells (NPC) may become the ideal candidates for neural transplantation in a wide range of diseases. However, additional work has to be done to determine either the ideal culture environment for NPC expansion in vitro, without altering their plasticity, or the FGF-2 and EGF mechanisms of cell signaling in neurospheres growth, survival and differentiation. In this work we evaluated mouse neurospheres cultured with and without FGF-2 and EGF containing medium and showed that those growth factors are responsible for NPC proliferation. It is also demonstrated that endogenous production of growth factors shifts from FGF-2 to IGF-1/PDGFb upon EGF and FGF-2 withdrawal. Mouse NPC cultured in suspension showed different patterns of neuronal localization (core versus shell) for both EGF and FGF-2 withdrawal and control groups. Taken together, these results show that EGF and FGF-2 removal play an important role in NPC differentiation and may contribute to a better understanding of mechanisms of NPC differentiation. Our findings suggest that depriving NPC of growth factors prior to grafting might enhance their chance to effectively integrate into the host.
Schwindt
Telma T
TT
Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Motta
Fabiana L
FL
Gabriela F
Barnabé
B
Cristina G
Massant
M
Guimarães
Alessander O
AO
Calcagnotto
Maria Elisa
ME
Pesquero
João B
JB
Mello
Luiz E
LE
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor