LGF («LIVER GROWTH FACTOR») como factor de proliferación, migración y diferenciación de las células madre neurales y su posible utilidad en enfermedad de Parkinson LGF («LIVER GROWTH FACTOR») as a factor involved in the proliferation, migration and differentiation of neural stem cells: Potential use in Parkinson's disease

Resumen

Liver growth factor (LGF) promotes the proliferation and regeneration of different cell types, and preliminary studies indicate that LGF might be useful for neuroregenerative therapies. The aim of this work was to study the cell proliferative and neurogenic effects of LGF in a 6-OHDA Parkinson’s disease (PD) experimental model. Intraventricular infusion of LGF increased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in the subventricular zone and striatum. In addition, the striatum ipsilateral to LGF infusion showed a higher expression of neural stem cell (NSC) markers nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein, and the presence of cells double-labeled for BrdU and nestin. However, no BrdU-positive/B tubulin III-positive cells were observed, suggesting that LGF is not a neurogenic factor. Intrastriatal LGF infusion significantly increased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibers in the striatum of dopamine-denervated rats. Moreover, apomorphine-induced behavioral rotations improved in these animals. We conclude that: 1) Intraventricular LGF infusion stimulates neural stem cell proliferation and migration; and 2) Intraestriatal LGF infusion stimulates the regeneration of dopaminergic terminals in the striatum, which might explain the partial behavioral recovery observed in these animals.