The human NTERA2 neural cell line generates neurons on growth under neural stem cell conditions and exhibits characteristics of radial glial cells

Mol Cell Neurosci. 2003 Sep;24(1):198-213. doi: 10.1016/s1044-7431(03)00161-1.

Abstract

NTERA2 cells are a human neural cell line generating neurons after exposure to retinoic acid and, as such, are widely used as a model of neurogenesis. We report that these cells form spheres when grown in serum-free medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). These spheres were found to express markers of radial glial cells such as, Pax6, glutamate transporter (GLAST), tenascin C, brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP), and the 3CB2 antigen. On plating on an adhesive substrate, NTERA2 spheres generate a large percentage of immature neurons (30-50%) together with a minority of cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage. Thus NTERA2 cells share properties with neural stem cells. However, at variance with the latter, we found that they produce their own bFGF implicated in an autocrine or paracrine proliferative loop and that they do not generate astrocytes after differentiation. These results provide an interesting model to study radial glial cells and their role in human neurogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autocrine Communication / drug effects
  • Autocrine Communication / physiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Lineage / drug effects
  • Cell Lineage / physiology
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / pharmacology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Models, Biological
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / drug effects
  • Neuroglia / metabolism*
  • Neuroglia / ultrastructure
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Oligodendroglia / drug effects
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism
  • Oligodendroglia / ultrastructure
  • Spheroids, Cellular / drug effects
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular / ultrastructure
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Stem Cells / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Epidermal Growth Factor