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Updated: Oct 17, 2026

Protocol for Culturing Sympathetic Neurons from Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia (SCG)
Published on: January 30, 2009
Nerve growth factor protects oligodendrocytes from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced injury through Akt-mediated
R Takano1, S Hisahara, K Namikawa
1Division of Neuroanatomy and Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Abstract:
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is thought to be one of the most important inflammatory cytokines associated with the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. We determined whether neurotrophins could protect oligodendrocytes from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity. Among the neurotrophins tested, nerve growth factor was most effective at preventing cell death. Nerve growth factor also prevented the tumor necrosis factor-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Overexpression of constitutively active Akt, a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, but not of constitutively active MEK, protected oligodendrocytes from tumor necrosis factor-induced injury. Moreover, overexpression of dominant-negative Akt negated the protective effects of nerve growth factor on tumor necrosis factor-mediated oligodendrocyte cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that the Akt pathway is crucial in nerve growth factor-mediated oligodendrocyte protection.
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