G-protein coupled receptor Smo positively regulates proliferation and migration of adult neural stem cells in vitro

Abstract

To investigate the role of G-protein coupled receptor Smoothened (Smo) in regulating proliferation and migration of adult neural stem cells (ANSCs) and explore the underlying mechanism. Cultured ANSCs were treated with purmorphamine (PM, an agonist of Smo) or cyclopamine (CPM, an inhibitor of Smo), and the changes in cell proliferation migration abilities were assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay and wound healing assay, respectively. The mRNA expressions of membrane receptor Patched 1 (Ptch1), Smo, glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1), axon guidance cue slit1 (Slit1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the treated cells were detected using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). PM significantly promoted the proliferation (P < 0.01) and migration of ANSCs (P < 0.01), and up-regulated the mRNA expressions of Ptch1, Smo, Gli1, Slit1 and BDNF. Treatment with CPM significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of ANSCs. Modulating Smo activity can positively regulate the proliferation and migration of ANSCs possibly by regulating the expressions of BDNF and Slit1.