Diverse functions of perlecan in central nervous system cells in vitro

Therapeutic treatment targeting one cell type is considered ineffective in remedying any injury to the central nervous system (CNS). Perlecan, a multi-functional, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, shows diverse effects on distinct cell types, suggesting that it is one of the candidates that can augment the regenerative mechanisms in the injured CNS. Therefore, we examined the functions of perlecan in CNS cells in vitro by using perlecan purified from bovine kidney. Perlecan-coated cell culture plates, unlike their type I/III collagen-coated counterparts, did not inhibit the adhesion of neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) and neurons. The coated perlecan and the perlecan added to the culture medium suppressed astrocyte proliferation; however, perlecan added to the medium promoted NS/PC proliferation. Neurons were promoted to extend their neurites on the perlecan-coated substrate, and perlecan added to the medium also showed a similar effect. NS/PC proliferation and neurite extension is a major regenerative reaction in CNS injury, whereas excess proliferation of astrocytes cause hypertrophy of glial scars, which repels neurons. Our in vitro study suggests that perlecan is an attractive candidate to promote regenerative mechanisms and to suppress reactions that hamper regenerative processes in cases of CNS injury.