FGFR1 down-regulation in differentiating human brain and spinal cord neurospheres

FGF2 is a key regulator of survival and proliferation of mammalian CNS stem cells. Cells within undifferentiated rodent neurospheres express FGF receptors (FGFRs), but their expression patterns and potential roles in human neurosphere proliferation and differentiation have not been examined. Our aim was to provide an initial overview of the relative profiles of FGFRs before and after differentiation of human neurospheres derived either from embryonic brain or spinal cord. In 'undifferentiated' neurospheres, transcripts from FGFR1 and FGFR2 were consistently detected. FGFR3 could be detected in undifferentiated brain neurospheres and in spinal cord early neurospheres. Following differentiation the most dramatic and consistent change was a decrease in FGFR1 mRNA, suggesting a role for this receptor in maintenance of the undifferentiated state.