Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Promotes Growth of Neurons and Neural Stem Cells Possibly by Triggering the Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/ AKT/Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β/β-catenin Pathway

CNS & Neurological Disorders Drug Targets
Xing-Tong LiLi-Yan Li

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in promoting survival and differentiation of neurons and neural stem cells (NSCs), but the downstream regulating mechanisms remain poorly understood. We investigated whether BDNF exerts its effect by triggering the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B, PKB (AKT), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin signaling pathway in cultured neurons and NSCs derived from the rat embryonic spinal cord. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect neuronal and NSCs characteristics. RT-PCR was used to detect PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway expression. Neurons and NSCs were successfully separated and cultured from Sprague-Dawley rat embryonic spinal cord and were respectively labeled using immunocytochemistry. Neuron-specific nuclear protein, neuronal class III β-tubulin, and neurofilament expression were detected in neurons; nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, microtubule-associated protein 2 and chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan expression were detected in the NSCs. BDNF promoted significant neuronal growth (number, soma size, and average neurite length), as well as NSCs proliferation and differentiation, but BDNF antibody decreased neuronal growth a...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 29, 2020·CNS & Neurological Disorders Drug Targets·Carmen RubioCarlos Paz
Aug 15, 2020·Frontiers in Medicine·Lei ZhangHong Jiang
May 28, 2020·Brain Sciences·Alexandra A NaumovaMargarita V Glazova

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