An analysis of global gene expression reveals molecular and signalling pathways hallmarks of neural stem cell survival and expansion in response to FGF-2 and EGF

The culture of neural stem cells (NSCs) as floating neurospheres has become widely used as an experimental model to analyse the properties of NSCs. Although the neurosphere model has existed for two decades, there is still no standard protocol to grow NSCs in this way. Thus, we have analysed the consequences of the frequency of growth factor (FGF-2 and EGF) addition to embryonic and adult olfactory bulb stem cells (eOBSCs and aOBSCs) cultures, specifically in terms of proliferation, cell cycle progression, death and differentiation, as well as on global changes in gene expression and signaling pathways. We found that addition of FGF-2 and EGF every two or four days rather than daily significantly reduces the volume of the neurospheres and the total number of cells, changes that were more evident in aOBSC than in eOBSC cultures. The reduction in neurosphere size was mainly due to an increase in cell death and occurs without major changes in the cell cycle parameters tested. Moreover, partial deprivation of FGF-2 and EGF produces a mild increase in aOBSC differentiation during the proliferative phase. Remarkably, these effects were accompanied by a significant upregulation in the expression of genes involved in cell death regulation (Cryab), lipid catabolic processes (Pla2g7), cell adhesion (Dscaml1), cell differentiation (Dscaml1, Gpr17, S100b) and signal transduction (Gpr17, Ndrg2), among others. These findings support that continuous supply of FGF-2 and EGF is critical to maintain the viability/survival of NSCs in culture and reveals novel molecular hallmarks of NSC maintenance/survival and expansion in response to these growth factors.

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Nieto-Estévez V, Pignatelli J, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Hurtado-Chong A, Vicario-Abejón C