Isolation of Neural Stem Cells Using Platelet Derived Growth Factor C

Abstract

Here, we show that Platelet-Derived Growth Factor C (PDGFC) supports the isolation of neural stem cells (NSCs) from the murine subventricular zone (SVZ) and maintains them in quiescent and slowly proliferating states. We also show that NSCs isolated using PDGFC can be induced to proliferate rapidly when switched to media supplemented with Epidermal Growth Factor and Fibroblast Growth Factor (EGF/FGF), the gold standard growth condition for NSCs. Although patterns of gene expression in NSCs isolated in PDGFC or in EGF/FGF are similar, a comparative analysis of quiescence genes reveals that NSCs in PDGFC are more like SVZ tissue than are NSCs maintained in EGF/FGF. In addition, NSCs isolated using PDGFC transition to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) when FGF is added to PDGFC and have an expression profile indistinguishable from OPCs that are isolated traditionally using PDGFA/FGF.