Induction of Olig2+ Precursors by FGF Involves BMP Signalling Blockade at the Smad Level
2008

FGF and BMP Signalling in Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Bilican Bilada, Fiore-Heriche Christelle, Compston Alastair, Allen Nicholas D., Chandran Siddharthan

Primary Institution: University of Cambridge

Hypothesis

FGF can promote oligodendrocyte precursor cell generation by counteracting BMP signalling.

Conclusion

FGF signalling can induce the production of oligodendrocyte precursors by inhibiting BMP signalling.

Supporting Evidence

  • FGF2 treatment significantly increased the number of OLIG2+ cells in cultures.
  • MAPK activity was shown to be responsive to FGF2 treatment.
  • FGF2 was found to prevent BMP-induced nuclear localization of SMAD1.

Takeaway

This study shows that a protein called FGF helps make brain cells called oligodendrocytes by blocking another protein called BMP that usually stops this process.

Methodology

The study used primary cultures of dorsal spinal cord neural precursor cells from rat embryos and analyzed the effects of FGF2 and BMP4 on oligodendrocyte precursor cell generation.

Participant Demographics

Rat embryonic dorsal spinal cord cultures were used.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01

Statistical Significance

p<0.01

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0002863

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