Neuronal-derived factors regulating glial cell proliferation and maturation

We purified to homogeneity two active factors, named astroglial growth factors (AGFs: AGF2 and AGF1), from bovine brain after two and three chromatographic steps, respectively. We found that AGFs have a strong affinity for heparin. Therefore, heparin affinity chromatography was used to purify rapidly and efficiently these growth factors. The purified AGF1 is an acidic protein (pI: 5.5) with an apparent molecular weight of about 17,500 daltons; the AGF2 is a basic protein (pI: 9.5) of 18,500 daltons. The comparison of the physico-chemical properties, the aminoacid composition and the amino-terminal sequence of the AGFs with that of other growth factors isolated from the brain and affecting the proliferation of other cell types has indicated that AGF1 and AGF2 are identical to the acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), respectively. Both factors stimulate the proliferation as well as the morphological and biochemical maturation of the astroglial cells. Both factors enhance also the multiplication of oligodendroglial cells. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against AGFs have been prepared and used for immunocytochemical localization of these molecules in the rat brain and cerebellum. AGFs are found exclusively in neuronal cells.