Identification of basic fibroblast growth factor-responsive genes by mRNA-differential display in an immortalized...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells through regulation of gene expressions. To clarify the roles of bFGF during early neurogenesis, we performed a series of differential display with mRNAs from an immortalized neural stem cell line treated with bFGF for different periods. We isolated ten independent cDNAs whose mRNA levels were regulated by bFGF. Some of these cDNA were identical to known genes, including calmodulin and thrombospondin 1, while others were unknown genes. One of these unknown genes up-regulated by bFGF (clone 2C) was specifically expressed in the brain among various rat tissues. It is expected that further analysis of clone 2C will reveal important roles of bFGF in the regulation of brain development.