​(Fig.3E3E and N), suggesting a limited effect on OL differentiation by ACDM. Consistently, the effect of the conditioned medium on OL differentiation could be clearly visualized by morphological changes. Intensive MBP (Fig. ​(Fig.3I)3I) and Rip (Fig. ​(Fig.3L)3L) immunoreactivity, especially in cell processes (Fig. ​(Fig.3I),3I), was observed in MCDM-treated OLs, whereas it was rather weak in ACDM-treated (Fig. ​(Fig.3H3H and K, respectively) or the control cells (Fig. ​(Fig.3G3G and J, respectively). Most notably, the primary, secondary, and Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical tertiary branches of OL processes, as well as the process network,

were clearly visible with Rip immunostaining in MCDM-treated (Fig. ​(Fig.3L),3L), but not ACDM-treated (Fig. ​(Fig.3K)3K) or the control cultures (Fig. ​(Fig.33J). Figure 3 MCDM, but not ACDM, strongly enhances OL

differentiation. (A–L) Representative photographs show the effects of ACDM and MCDM on OL differentiation, as assessed using a panel of antibodies against developmental Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical stage-specific OL Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical markers (see text … Patterns of COX animal study cytokine in MCDM and ACDM are different as revealed by protein assay Next, we used a protein array to define the patterns of cytokine in the conditioned medium (Fig. ​(Fig.4A).4A). Among the 90 cytokines, seven were detected at higher levels in ACDM than in MCDM, including CNTF, bFGF, bFGF-binding protein, PDGF-AA, growth hormone, TIMP-1, and thrombospondin. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical In contrast, levels of E-selectin, fractalkine (also known as CX3CL1), neuropilin-2, IL-2, IL-5, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were significantly higher in MCDM than in ACDM. To validate the protein array data, as well as to compare the levels of cytokines that are not included in the array but are known to be important for OL development in vivo, several selected cytokines were further measured quantitatively by ELISA or Western blot. The ELISA data Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical revealed a striking difference of CNTF

and IGF-1 levels between ACDM and MCDM. CNTF concentration was 12.5-fold higher in ACDM than in MCDM (642.7 ± 6.1 pg/mL these vs. 51.5 + 1.5 pg/mL, n = 3), while the levels of IGF-1 was 6.3-fold higher in MCDM than in ACDM (424.7 ± 57.6 pg/mL vs. 66.7 ± 4.0 pg/mL, n = 3). Consistent with the cytokine array data, Western blot data showed similar patterns of PDGF and bFGF in the conditioned medium. Strong bFGF bands were only detected in ACDM, whereas PDGFaa bands were detected in both medium; however, its levels were 2.5-fold higher in ACDM than in MCDM (Fig. ​(Fig.44B). Figure 4 Cytokine array reveals distinct cytokine patterns in ACDM and MCDM. (A) A protein array was used to profile 90 cytokines in ACDM and MCDM. Each cytokine was detected in duplicate. Differentially expressed cytokines (defined as >2.5-fold higher) …