Intrinsic neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) do not successfully regenerate following trauma. The lack of regeneration accounts, in part, for the poor prognosis of patients who have sustained serious injury to the spinal cord or brain. The isolation of molecules that enhance neuronal survival and facilitate process outgrowth could significantly improve a patient's response and outlook following CNS injury. This proposal is based on our unique finding that a protein mitogen, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), enhances survival and neurite extension from CNS neurons in vitro. Nerve growth factor is the only other (Homogeneous) trophic molecule reported to affect CNS neurons, but its action in the CNS is restricted to a small population of cells in the basal forebrain. In order to exploit bFGF as a potential therapeutic agent it is necessary to know more about its basic biology, including the types of neurons that respond to it and the mechanism by which it works. Therefore, we plan to survey defined regions of the CNS for the presence of neurons responsive to bFGF by utilizing primary cell culture techniques. Neurons will be identified using immunocytochemical techniques employing antibodies to defined neuronal antigens. The cells will be further characterzied and classified according to subtype by analyzing their expression of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides using immunocytochemical methods. Upon characterization of the neuronal cultures we will begin to analyze the mechanism of bFGF action by studying its receptor. Receptor binding is the first step in initiating the action of most polypeptide hormones. An 125I-bFGF tracer will be developed and used for demonstrating and identifying the bFGF receptor on neurons and neurolgia. Molecular characterization will be performed on solubilized receptors using SDS polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of receptor covalently attached to tracer by chemical cross-linking. We will correlate the response of neuronal populations in vitro with receptor expression in vivo by combining the 125I-bFGF tracer with frozen sections of rat brain. In this manner the ontogeny and distribution of bFGF receptors in the CNS will be accurately mapped.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
7R29NS026125-03
Application #
3477386
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1988-04-01
Project End
1993-03-31
Budget Start
1989-09-01
Budget End
1990-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Good Samaritan Hosp & Medical Center(Prtlnd,OR)
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97210
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Morrison, R S; Yamaguchi, F; Bruner, J M et al. (1994) Fibroblast growth factor receptor gene expression and immunoreactivity are elevated in human glioblastoma multiforme. Cancer Res 54:2794-9
Yamaguchi, F; Saya, H; Bruner, J M et al. (1994) Differential expression of two fibroblast growth factor-receptor genes is associated with malignant progression in human astrocytomas. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 91:484-8
Morrison, R S; Shi, E; Kan, M et al. (1994) Inositolhexakisphosphate (InsP6): an antagonist of fibroblast growth factor receptor binding and activity. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 30A:783-9
Sherman, L; Stocker, K M; Morrison, R et al. (1993) Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) acts intracellularly to cause the transdifferentiation of avian neural crest-derived Schwann cell precursors into melanocytes. Development 118:1313-26
Morrison, R S; Giordano, S; Yamaguchi, F et al. (1993) Basic fibroblast growth factor expression is required for clonogenic growth of human glioma cells. J Neurosci Res 34:502-9
Chalazonitis, A; Kessler, J A; Twardzik, D R et al. (1992) Transforming growth factor alpha, but not epidermal growth factor, promotes the survival of sensory neurons in vitro. J Neurosci 12:583-94
Giordano, S; Sherman, L; Lyman, W et al. (1992) Multiple molecular weight forms of basic fibroblast growth factor are developmentally regulated in the central nervous system. Dev Biol 152:293-303
Chalazonitis, A; Kalberg, J; Twardzik, D R et al. (1992) Transforming growth factor beta has neurotrophic actions on sensory neurons in vitro and is synergistic with nerve growth factor. Dev Biol 152:121-32
Morrison, R S (1991) Suppression of basic fibroblast growth factor expression by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides inhibits the growth of transformed human astrocytes. J Biol Chem 266:728-34

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