Research article

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans regulate the growth, differentiation and migration of multipotent neural precursor cells through the integrin signaling pathway

Wen-Li Gu^1,2 , Sai-Li Fu¹ , Yan-Xia Wang¹ , Ying Li¹ , He-Zuo Lü¹ , Xiao-Ming Xu^1,3 and Pei-Hua Lu¹

¹Department of Neurobiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, PR China

²Department of Clinical Laboratory, No.9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, PR China

³Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Neuroscience 2009, 10:128doi:10.1186/1471-2202-10-128

Published:	21 October 2009

Abstract

Background

Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are defined by their ability to proliferate, self-renew, and retain the potential to differentiate into neurons and glia. Deciphering the factors that regulate their behaviors will greatly aid in their use as potential therapeutic agents or targets. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are prominent components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the central nervous system (CNS) and are assumed to play important roles in controlling neuronal differentiation and development.

Results

In the present study, we demonstrated that CSPGs were constitutively expressed on the NPCs isolated from the E16 rat embryonic brain. When chondroitinase ABC was used to abolish the function of endogenous CSPGs on NPCs, it induced a series of biological responses including the proliferation, differentiation and migration of NPCs, indicating that CSPGs may play a critical role in NPC development and differentiation. Finally, we provided evidence suggesting that integrin signaling pathway may be involved in the effects of CSPGs on NPCs.

Conclusion

The present study investigating the influence and mechanisms of CSPGs on the differentiation and migration of NPCs should help us to understand the basic biology of NPCs during CNS development and provide new insights into developing new strategies for the treatment of the neurological disorders in the CNS.