Characteristics of quiescent adult neural stem cells induced by the bFGF/BMP4 combination or BMP4 alone in vitro

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2024 · DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1391556 · Published: May 22, 2024

Neurology Genetics Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how Bone Morphogenetic Protein-4 (BMP4) and a combination of bFGF/BMP4 affect neural stem cells (NSCs). The researchers compared NSCs treated with BMP4 alone versus those treated with the bFGF/BMP4 combination to understand their impact on cell behavior. The research found that both treatments induce a quiescent state in NSCs, meaning the cells are in a resting phase. However, BMP4-treated NSCs enter a deeper state of quiescence compared to those treated with the bFGF/BMP4 combination. When stimulated to differentiate, NSCs treated with the bFGF/BMP4 combination were more likely to develop into neurons compared to those treated with BMP4 alone, indicating different potentials for neuronal differentiation based on the initial treatment.

Study Duration

6 days

Participants

Adult C57BL/6 mice (2 female mice and 2 male mice were used for one cell isolation experiment) aged 8–9 weeks

Evidence Level

Original Research

Key Findings

1
Both BMP4 alone and bFGF/BMP4 combination induce a quiescent state in neural stem cells (qNSCs), but they result in different levels of quiescence.
2
BMP4-treated NSCs tend to be in a deeper quiescent state than bFGF/BMP4-treated NSCs, as indicated by lower Ki67 expression.
3
bFGF/BMP4-treated NSCs have a greater capacity to differentiate into neurons compared to BMP4-treated NSCs, as evidenced by increased DCX and MAP2 expression upon differentiation.

Research Summary

This study compared the effects of BMP4 alone and a bFGF/BMP4 combination on neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro, using RNA sequencing to analyze transcriptome profiles and immunofluorescence to validate findings. The research determined that both treatments induce a quiescent state in NSCs, but BMP4-treated NSCs enter a deeper quiescent state and exhibit more developed cilia compared to bFGF/BMP4-treated NSCs. Furthermore, bFGF/BMP4-treated NSCs show a greater potential for neuronal differentiation, highlighting distinct characteristics and potentials of qNSCs induced by these two methods.

Practical Implications

Reference for qNSC Models

The study provides a reference for researchers using BMP4 and bFGF/BMP4 to induce qNSCs, aiding in the selection of appropriate models for specific research questions.

Understanding Quiescence Mechanisms

The findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the maintenance and activation of the quiescent state in NSCs.

Optimizing Neural Differentiation

The results suggest strategies for enhancing neuronal differentiation from NSCs by using specific growth factor combinations.

Study Limitations

1
In vitro study may not fully replicate the complex in vivo environment.
2
Limited to SVZ-derived NSCs; findings may not be generalizable to NSCs from other brain regions.
3
Further studies needed to elucidate the precise molecular mechanisms driving the observed differences in quiescence and differentiation.

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