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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes
Published on: April 12, 2015
Stromal derived factor-1 exerts differential regulation on distinct cortical cell populations in vitro
James Pritchett1, Clare Wright, Leo Zeef
11,124 Stopford Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. J.Pritchett@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk <J.Pritchett@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk>
Background:
Stromal derived factor (SDF-1), an alpha chemokine, is a widely known chemoattractant in the immune system. A growing body of evidence now suggests multiple regulatory roles for SDF-1 in the developing nervous system.
Results:
To investigate the role of SDF-1 signaling in the growth and differentiation of cortical cells, we performed numerous in vitro experiments, including gene chip and quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Using SDF-1 medium and AMD3100, a receptor antagonist, we demonstrate that the chemokine signaling regulates key events during early cortical development. First, SDF-1 signaling maintains cortical progenitors in proliferation, possibly through a mechanism involving connexin 43 mediated intercellular coupling. Second, SDF-1 signaling upregulates the differentiation of cortical GABAergic neurons, independent of sonic signaling pathway. Third, SDF-1 enables the elongation and branching of axons of cortical glutamatergic neurons. Finally, cortical cultures derived from CXCR4-/- mutants show a close parallel to AMD3100 treatment with reduced cell proliferation and differentiation of GABAergic neurons.
Conclusion:
Results from this study show that SDF-1 regulates distinct cortical cell populations in vitro.
