Cytokines affecting survival and differentiation of an astrocyte progenitor cell line.

The effects of various cytokines on survival and differentiation of an astrocyte progenitor cell line (AP-16) were examined. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) deprivation caused death of AP-16 cells by apoptosis. Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) prevented the apoptosis occurring in the absence of EGF. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) induced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and decreased A2B5 antigen in AP-16 cells, indicating that these cytokines induced AP-16 cells to differentiate into astrocytes.