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Extracellular signal--regulated kinase 1/2 is essential for the proliferation of neural stem cells derived from embryonic cortex

Huang Xin, Zhao Tong, Zhao Hua, Xiong Lei, Liu Zhaohui, Wu Liying, Zhu Lingling, Fan Ming

Department of Brain Protection and Plasticity,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences.Beijing 100850

Abstract

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway has been shown to be important for regulating cell proliferation and survival. The role of ERK1/2 signaling in the survival and growth of neural stem cells (NSCs) has not been addressed adequately. In this work, we aimed to provide evidence that proliferation of NSCs in vitro is controlled via ERK1/2-dependent pathways. Mouse NSCs were prepared from embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) cortex of mouse forebrain. Cells were harvested at the desired times (1 d, 3 d and 5 d) and the total protein was extracted and analyzed by Western blot. It was observed that ERK1/2 signaling was activated during the proliferation of NSCs. In addition, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059, which directly prohibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation, inhibited the formation of neurospheres, and this inhibitory effect was dose-dependent. After treatment with 20 μmol/L PD98059, the growth of NSCs was also reduced with time-dependence. These data indicate that the ERK1/2 is essential for the proliferation of NSCs derived from embryonic cortex in vitro.

Key words: neural stem cell;extracellular signal-regulated kinase;PD98059;cell proliferation

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Citing This Article：

Huang Xin, Zhao Tong, Zhao Hua, Xiong Lei, Liu Zhaohui, Wu Liying, Zhu Lingling, Fan Ming. Extracellular signal--regulated kinase 1/2 is essential for the proliferation of neural stem cells derived from embryonic cortex. Acta Physiol Sin 2008; 60 (3): 437-441 (in Chinese with English abstract).