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A Role for Fibroblast Growth Factor in Oligodendrocyte Development
Author(s) -
McKIN RANDALL D.,
MATSUI TOSHIMITSU,
ARANDA MARIAN,
DUBOISDALCQ MONIQUE
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb49048.x
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , gerontology , library science , computer science , physics , thermodynamics
The differentiation of oligodendrocyte-type 2 astrocyte (O-2A) glial progenitor cells into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes is influenced by several polypeptide growth factors. Exposure of O-2A progenitors to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) promotes their sustained proliferation, blocks their differentiation, and maintains both a high level of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) alpha-receptors and PDGF sensitivity. Exposure to PDGF, in contrast, promotes only a limited number of cell divisions prior to their differentiation and triggers progenitor cell migration. In the continued presence of bFGF the cells have a stellate morphology with short processes. Upon addition of PDGF these stellate cells become bipolar with long processes, and on removal of PDGF their morphology reverts back to stellate. Thus the phenotype of O-2A progenitor cells in response to these growth factors is plastic. Our studies suggest that bFGF (or a related ligand) in the CNS may sensitize O-2A progenitors to PDGF and thereby initiate their ability to migrate into white matter tracts prior to the onset of myelination.