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University of Texas Medical Branch |
Cell Biology Graduate Program |
The research focus of this laboratory at The University of Texas Medical Branch is analysis of the molecular growth requirements of neural cells: neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. We have defined the growth requirements of peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) neuroblastoma, PNS and CNS glioma, oligodendrocyte somatic cell hybrid, and embryonal carcinoma cell lines (that can be induced to form neurons). In addition to neural cell lines, we can maintain primary postmitotic neurons and proliferating or stationary astrocytes or oligodendrocytes in vitro in the absence of serum. These preparations are particularly useful for studying neural cell-cell interactions.
B.A., Univ. of California, Los Angeles, 1971 Ph.D., Univ. of California, Los Anegles, 1976 Member, Marine Biomedical Institute Associate Professor, Human Biological Chemistry & Genetics Cell Biology Graduate Program Neuroscience Graduate Program
We have recently identified a CNS neuronal cell line-derived growth factor targeted to the O-2A bipotential glial progenitor that gives rise to oligodendrocytes and type 2 astrocytes in vitro. The factor has been partially purified, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have been raised against this preparation, and immunostained tissue sections of brain show neuronal localization of the antigen early in development but not in the mature stage. This study is relevant to both central nervous system development and to demyelinating disorders, e.g., multiple sclerosis. We are now purifying this factor (Progenitor Regulatory Factor; PRF) to homogeneity and cloning its cDNA in preparation for studies of its regulation of expression. A second area of current interest is in cortical subplate neuron survival factors and their role in cortical development.
Fluorescence micrograph of papain-dissociated postnatal 2.5 d rat cortical cells in primary culture after 8 days in vitro. Cells are immunostained with anti-PRF antibody.
Bottenstein, J.E. and Hunter, S.F. Culture methods for oligodendrocyte cell lines and oligodendrocyte/type 2 astrocyte lineage cells. In P.M Conn (Ed). Methods in Neurosciences, Vol. 2, Cell Culture, Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 56-75, 1990.
Hunter, S.F. and Bottenstein, J.E. Growth factor responses of enriched bipotential glial progenitors. Develop. Brain Res., 54:235-248, 1990.
Hunter, S.F. and Bottenstein, J.E. O-2A glial progenitors from mature brain respond to CNS neuronal cell line-derived growth factors. J. Neurosci. Res., 28:574-582, 1991.
Janapati, V., Willhoite, A., Edwards, M. and Bottenstein, J.E. Isolation of an oligodendrocyte progenitor regulatory factor (PRF). Soc. Neurosci., abstr. Nov. 1995.
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