TGF-alpha induces a stationary, radial-glia like phenotype in cultured astrocytes

Brain Research Bulletin
R ZhouO Skalli

Abstract

Transgenic mice studies have suggested that transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) influences the postnatal differentiation of astrocytes. To understand the role of TGF-alpha during astrocytic differentiation, it is important to determine how this factor affects astrocytes in the absence of other influences. We have thus examined in vitro under serum-free medium conditions the effect of TGF-alpha on the properties of astrocytes derived from the cerebral cortex of newborn rats. When TGF-alpha is added to serum-free medium, most astrocytes lose their polygonal shape and extend two long processes running in opposite directions. This bipolar morphology strikingly resembles that of radial glial cells. Intriguingly, serum inhibits this morphological transformation. TGF-alpha also triggers an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression and a decrease in nestin expression. Another major effect of TGF-alpha is to practically abolish the motility of astrocytes. TGF-alpha, however, does not appear to influence the proliferation and apoptosis of astrocytes. These results suggest that polygonal astrocytes are derived primarily from radial glial cells, and that in vivo TGF-alpha may be instrumental in determining the ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 3, 2002·Journal of Neuroscience Research·Christopher T GreggSamuel Weiss
Mar 1, 2006·Archives of Histology and Cytology·Marjan MoreelsIvo Lambrichts
May 10, 2017·Journal of Neurochemistry·Christopher I UgbodeMarcus Rattray
Jun 13, 2006·Journal of Cellular Biochemistry·Tao YuLinyin Feng
Dec 20, 2002·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Cecília GabrielDenis Vivien
May 28, 2016·Journal of Neurochemistry·Ingrid MoralesManuel Rodriguez

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