Integrin-associated protein promotes neuronal differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells

PLoS One. 2015 Feb 23;10(2):e0116741. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116741. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) proliferate and differentiate depending on their intrinsic properties and local environment. During the development of the mammalian nervous system, NSPCs generate neurons and glia sequentially. However, little is known about the mechanism that determines the timing of switch from neurogenesis to gliogenesis. In this study, we established a culture system in which the neurogenic potential of NSPCs is decreased in a time-dependent manner, so that short-term-cultured NSPCs differentiate into more neurons compared with long-term-cultured NSPCs. We found that short-term-cultured NSPCs express high levels of integrin-associated protein form 2 (IAP2; so-called CD47) mRNA using differential display analysis. Moreover, IAP2 overexpression in NSPCs induced neuronal differentiation of NSPCs. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which IAP2 induces neuronal differentiation of NSPCs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD47 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neurogenesis / physiology*
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • CD47 Antigen
  • CD47 protein, rat

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.