Abstract
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) has a prominent action on immature crest-derived nerve cells and on differentiation and survival of neurons in central and peripheral nervous system. NGF is produced by a variety of neuronal and non-neuronal cells, including neoplastic cells. Its role in tumor cells is largely unknown and controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of NGF on brain neoplastic cells using primary cultures from ependymoblastoma (EP) tissue. Human EP tissues were cultured to obtain in vitro cells and their structural, biochemical, and molecular responses to NGF were investigated. The results showed that under basal conditions, human EP cells are characterized by low presence of high-affinity NGF-receptors. Time-course and dose-response studies revealed that EP cells undergo differentiation after exposure to NGF. Our findings showed that in human EP cells, NGF exerts a marked action on differentiation rather than proliferation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Antibodies / pharmacology
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Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Brain Neoplasms / physiopathology
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects
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Cell Shape / drug effects
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Cell Shape / physiology
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors
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Humans
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Nerve Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
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Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism*
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Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / drug therapy*
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Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / metabolism*
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Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / physiopathology
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Protein Binding / drug effects
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Protein Binding / physiology
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RNA, Messenger / drug effects
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Receptor, trkA / agonists
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Receptor, trkA / genetics
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Receptor, trkA / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
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Antibodies
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors
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RNA, Messenger
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Transcription Factors
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Nerve Growth Factor
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Receptor, trkA