title: NG2 cells in white matter but not gray matter proliferate in response to PDGF.
abstract: Glial cells that express the NG2 proteoglycan and the α receptor for PDGF (NG2 cells, polydendrocytes) make up the fifth major cell population that serves as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the postnatal CNS. Although recent studies have suggested differences in their proliferation and oligodendrocyte differentiation in gray and white matter, the mechanism underlying the observed differences has been unclear. Using organotypic slice cultures from the forebrain and cerebellum of early postnatal NG2creBAC:ZEG mice, we have compared basal and growth factor-induced proliferation of NG2 cells in gray and white matter. NG2 cells in white matter exhibited greater proliferative response to PDGF AA than those in gray matter. Heterotopic slice transplant and explant cultures suggested intrinsic mechanisms for the differential proliferative response of gray and white matter cells. Additionally, younger white matter NG2 cells showed a more robust proliferative response to PDGF. Basal and PDGF-induced proliferation of gray and white matter NG2 cells was largely dependent on Wnt/β-catenin and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase acting through the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and not through ERK. These data uncover a previously unrecognized divergence between gray and white matter NG2 cells in the developing brain in their proliferative response to PDGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Kiran D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medved
authors.forename: Alex M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A