title: Morphological transformation and proliferation of rat astrocytes as induced by sulfated polysaccharides from the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus.
abstract: In this report, we demonstrate that the sulfated polysaccharide, Haishen (HS), which was isolated from the body wall of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus can induce morphological transformation and proliferation of astrocytes in vitro when combined with basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). Cell morphology showed no change when induced by HS or FGF-2 alone. However, combinational treatment of HS and FGF-2 promoted transformation of normal astrocyte into a stella morphology (stellation), along with an increase in the expression and rearrangement of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Further analysis of HS- and FGF-2-treated cells indicated a reduced percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase, whereas the cell proliferation index (S phase) was increased. The proportion of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells increased in response to the combination of HS and FGF-2. With respect to cell cycle signaling, immunoblotting assay demonstrated an accumulation of Cyclin D1. These observations suggest that HS may play a role in astrocyte morphological transformation and proliferation, and this activation requires a synergism with FGF-2.
authors.affiliation: Marine College, Shandong University at Weihai, Weihai 264209, China.
authors.forename: Xiehuang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Nannan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shuliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yuejie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yunshan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D002452:Cell Count; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012616:Sea Cucumbers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D011134:Polysaccharides; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D019938:Cyclin D1