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Epidermal growth factor and its receptor in the developing human nervous system
E Birecree1, L E King, L B Nanney
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptors (EGF-R) are present in the human central nervous system. These molecules may play a crucial role in the maturation and differentiation of the developing human brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Recent data indicate functional roles for epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) in central nervous system neurons.
- EGF has been detected in rat brain and cerebrospinal fluid, and EGF-R identified in human brain tissue, including Alzheimer's disease-associated plaques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and distribution of EGF and EGF-R in human neural tissues across different developmental stages.
- To confirm the availability of EGF receptors for ligand interaction in developing brains.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining using anti-EGF and anti-EGF-R polyclonal sera on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human brain tissues (27 weeks gestation to 63 years).
- Binding studies using 125I-EGF in developing rat brains to assess receptor occupancy.
Main Results:
- Immunostaining revealed the presence of EGF and EGF-R in various human neuronal cell types, including hippocampal pyramidal cells, Purkinje cells, and dorsal root ganglion cells.
- EGF receptors were found to be largely unoccupied and available for ligand binding in developing rat brains.
Conclusions:
- EGF and EGF-R are expressed in diverse neuronal populations within the human central nervous system throughout development.
- These findings suggest a potential role for EGF/EGF-R signaling in human central nervous system maturation and differentiation.