@article{LillienSendtnerRaff1990, author = {Lillien, Laura E. and Sendtner, Michael and Raff, Martin C.}, title = {Extracellular Matrix-associated molecules collaborate with ciliary neurotrophic factor to induce type-2 astrocyte development}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42602}, year = {1990}, abstract = {0-2A progenitor cells give rise to both oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes in vitro. Whereas oligodendrocyte differentiation occurs constitutively, type-2 astrocyte differentiation requires extracellular signals, one of which is thought to be ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). CNTF, however, is insufficient by itself to induce the development of stable type-2 astrocytes. In this report we show the following: (a) that molecules associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM) cooperate with CNTF to induce stable type-2 astrocyte differentiation in serumfree cultures. The combination of CNTF and the ECM-associated molecules thus mimics the effect of FCS, which has been shown previously to induce stable type-2 astrocyte differentiation in vitro. (b) Both the ECM-associated molecules and CNTF act directly on 0-2A progenitor cells and can induce them to differentiate prematurely into type-2 astrocytes. (c) ECM-associated molecules also inhibit oligodendrocyte differentiation, even in the absence of CNTF, but this inhibition is not sufficient on its own to induce type-2 astrocyte differentiation. (d) Whereas the effect of ECM on oligodendrocyte differentiation is mimicked by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), the effect of ECM on type-2 astrocyte differentiation is not. (e) The ECM-associated molecules that are responsible for inhibitin~ oligodendrocyte differentiation and for cooperating with CNTF to induce type-2 astrocyte differentiation are made by non-glial cells in vitro. (f) Molecules that have these activities and bind to ECM are present in the optic nerve at the time type-2 astrocytes are thought to be developing.}, language = {en} } @article{ArakawaSendtnerThoenen1990, author = {Arakawa, Yoshihiro and Sendtner, Michael and Thoenen, Hans}, title = {Survival effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on chick embryonic motoneurons in culture: comparison with other neurotrophic factors and cytokines}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-31718}, year = {1990}, abstract = {No abstract available}, language = {en} } @article{SendtnerKreutzbergThoenen1990, author = {Sendtner, Michael and Kreutzberg, Georg W. and Thoenen, Hans}, title = {Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) prevents the degeneration of motor neurons after axotomy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32637}, year = {1990}, abstract = {The period of natural cell death in the development of rodent motor neurons is followed by a period of sensitivity to axonal injury1-3. In the rat this early postnatal period of vulnerability coincides with that of very low ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) levels in the sciatic nerve before CNTF increases to the high, adult levels4. The developmental time course of CNTF expression, its regional tissue distribution and its cytosolic localization (as suggested by its primary structure)4*5 favour a role for CNTF as a lesion factor rather than a target-derived neurotrophic molecule like nerve growth factor. Nevertheless CNTF exhibits neurotrophic activity in vitro on different populations of embryonic neurons6. To determine whether the vulnerability of motor neurons to axotomy in the early postnatal phase is due to insufficient availability of CNTF, we transected the axons of newborn rat motor neurons and demonstrated that iocal application of CNTF prevents the degeneration of the corresponding cell bodies.}, language = {en} }