Title:Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor-beta is Differentially Regulated in Primary Mouse Pericytes and Brain Slices
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Bianca Hutter-Schmid and Christian Humpel
Affiliation:Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Keywords:Pericytes, in vitro cultures, platelet-derived growth factor-beta, Western Blot, brain slices.
Abstract:Pericytes are perivascular cells and have heterogenous roles in the brain, such as controlling blood flow and entry
of immune cells or regulating the blood-brain barrier. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-beta (PDGFRβ)
is highly expressed in pericytes, representing the most selective biomarker. The aim of the present study was to culture
primary mouse pericytes and to determine the expression pattern by Western Blot as well as immunostainings. We will
study the effects of different exogenous stimuli (such as transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ1), PDGF-BB, oxygendeprivation,
beta-amyloid or serumfree conditions) on the different pericyte markers. Using Western Blot analyses, we
show that PDGFRβ is selectively expressed in pericytes as a 160 kDa protein. Nestin, although not exclusively specific, is
also expressed by pericytes, but markedly downregulated under serum-free conditions. PDGF-BB and oxygen-deprivation
dramatically reduced PDGFRβ expression, while TGF1 increased its expression. The expression of PDGFRβ was intracellular
as shown by confocal microscopy. Using Western Blot analyses, we demonstrate that pericytes also contain a 100
kDa PDGFRβ protein. However, in contrast to cortex brain slices, pericytes do not express a phosphorylated (Y740) isoform.
Interestingly, PDGF-BB markedly reduced the 160 kDa isoform of PDGFRβ. In conclusion, our data show a detailed
expression of different forms of PDGFRβ in primary pericytes, which is different to brain slices. However, we suggest
that PDGFR is a highly selective marker for pericytes.
