Open AccessSerum and transforming growth factor beta regulate glial fibrillary acidic protein in serum-free-derived mouse embryo cells.
Author(s) -
Yoshio Sakai,
Cathleen Rawson,
Katherine Lindburg,
David W. Barnes
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.87.21.8378
Subject(s) - glial fibrillary acidic protein , embryo , astrocyte , gfap stain , transforming growth factor , epidermal growth factor , biology , growth factor , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , cell growth , transforming growth factor, beta 3 , transforming growth factor beta , beta (programming language) , chemistry , endocrinology , immunology , tgf alpha , biochemistry , immunohistochemistry , central nervous system , genetics , receptor , computer science , programming language
Serum-free mouse embryo (SFME) cells, derived in medium in which serum is replaced with growth factors and other supplements, display distinctive properties: (i) SFME cells do not lose proliferative potential or show gross chromosomal aberration upon extended culture, (ii) these cells depend on epidermal growth factor for survival; and (iii) SFME cell proliferation is reversibly inhibited by serum. Treatment of SFME cells with serum or transforming growth factor beta led to the appearance of glial fibrillary acidic protein, a specific marker for astrocytes. The appearance of glial fibrillary acidic protein in cultures was reversed upon removal of transforming growth factor beta or serum. Cells with properties similar to SFME cells were also isolated from adult mouse brain. These results suggest a role for transforming growth factor beta in astrocyte differentiation in developing organisms and in response to injury and identify the cell type that has the unusual properties of SFME cells.