Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) facilitates differentiation of adult dorsal root ganglia-derived neural stem cells toward Schwann cells by binding to FGFR-1 through MAPK/ERK activation.
Considerable research has been devoted to unraveling the regulation of neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation. The responses of NSCs to various differentiation-inducing stimuli, however, are still difficult to estimate. In this study, we aimed to search for a potent growth factor that was able to effectively induce differentiation of NSCs toward Schwann cells. NSCs were isolated from dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of adult rats and identified by immunostaining. Three different growth factors were used to stimulate the differentiation of DRG-derived NSCs (DRG-NSCs). We found that among these three growth factors, bFGF was the strongest inducer for the glial differentiation of DRG-NSCs, and bFGF induced the generation of an increased number of Schwann cell-like cells as compared to nerve growth factor (NGF) and neuregulin1-β (NRG). These Schwann cell-like cells demonstrated the same characteristics as those of primary Schwann cells. Furthermore, we noted that bFGF-induced differentiation of DRG-NSCs toward Schwann cells might be mediated by binding to fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) through activation of MAPK/ERK signal pathway.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, JS, 226001, People's Republic of China.
Yun
Y
Gu
Chenbin
C
Xue
Jianbin
J
Zhu
Hualin
H
Sun
Fei
F
Ding
Zheng
Z
Cao
Xiaosong
X
Gu
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D020890:Neuregulin-1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C117467:neuregulin beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; C496350:Fgfr1 protein, rat; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1