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Neurotrophins Differentially Regulate the Survival and Morphological Complexity of Human CNS Model Neurons
Author(s) -
Piontek Jörg,
Chen Chi Chiung,
Kempf Martina,
Brandt Roland
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1999.0730139.x
Subject(s) - tropomyosin receptor kinase a , neurotrophin , tropomyosin receptor kinase c , tropomyosin receptor kinase b , biology , neurotrophic factors , nerve growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , trk receptor , neurotrophin 3 , neuroscience , context (archaeology) , brain derived neurotrophic factor , receptor tyrosine kinase , receptor , growth factor , signal transduction , platelet derived growth factor receptor , biochemistry , paleontology
To determine the effect of neurotrophins on the survival and morphological differentiation of CNS neurons, we examined NT2‐N cells, which provide a unique culture model for terminally differentiated and polar human neurons. Here we report the development of conditions for the long‐term culture of NT2‐N cells in low density and in chemically defined medium. We show that NT2‐N cells express mRNAs for TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC tyrosine kinase receptors and the low‐affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75NTR). All members of the nerve growth factor‐related family of neurotrophic factors promote neuronal survival in long‐term cultures with ∼1 ng/ml for half‐maximal survival. At high concentrations (>20 ng/ml), the neurotrophins reversed the survival‐promoting effect as judged by MTT [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide] conversion. In contrast to the uniform effect of all neurotrophins on neuronal survival, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor selectively induced an increased dendritic complexity. These results demonstrate that NT2‐N cells provide a useful model to analyze the effect of neurotrophins on the survival and morphological differentiation of CNS neurons in vitro. In addition, the data indicate that neuronal survival and the development of morphological complexity are differentially regulated in a multireceptor context.