Publication Date:
1993
abstract:
Recent studies have demonstrated that the action of nerve growth factor (NGF) is
not restricted to neuronal cells but also affects cells of the immune system. In
a previous work on the effect of NGF on the chick embryo bursa of Fabricius both
in vivo and in vitro, we observed that NGF prolongs bursal cell survival in
vitro. In the present study we report that the increase of viable cells in
NGF-treated cultures is not due to a proliferative effect of NGF on bursal cells
but to a reduction of cell mortality. The morphological analysis revealed that
bursal cells in cultures die by apoptosis, which was also shown by the typical
pattern of DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of this cell death process. It is
concluded that NGF, with an action similar to that described in sympathetic
neurons and PC12, could retard bursal cell death by influencing apoptosis.
not restricted to neuronal cells but also affects cells of the immune system. In
a previous work on the effect of NGF on the chick embryo bursa of Fabricius both
in vivo and in vitro, we observed that NGF prolongs bursal cell survival in
vitro. In the present study we report that the increase of viable cells in
NGF-treated cultures is not due to a proliferative effect of NGF on bursal cells
but to a reduction of cell mortality. The morphological analysis revealed that
bursal cells in cultures die by apoptosis, which was also shown by the typical
pattern of DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of this cell death process. It is
concluded that NGF, with an action similar to that described in sympathetic
neurons and PC12, could retard bursal cell death by influencing apoptosis.
Iris type:
01.01 Articolo in rivista
List of contributors:
BRACCI LAUDIERO, Luisa
Published in: