Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)

Volume 2, No. 1,  2019
Pages 23-32

Growth Response of Neurofibroma Explants to basic- Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) in In -Vitro Cell-Culture Analysis

*Sulaiman M. H¹., Imam. J¹, and Helliwell T. R. ^2
1Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
²Department of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK

ABSTRACT

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), also known as von Recklinghausen disease is caused by disorder of a single gene on chromosome 17 that usually restrains cell division.. The NF1 gene protein product neurofibromin, negatively regulate oncogenic Ras, and thus regulate cell proliferation. Neurofibromas are heterogeneous and complex benign tumours, consisting of Schwann cells (SCs) (NF-/-) and fibroblasts (NF1+/+, NF+/-) and other cell types. Human basic fibroblasts growth factor (b-FGF) is expressed by Schwann cells, macrophages and fibroblasts. Thus, b-FGF is apparently imperative in Schwann cell (SC) proliferation. This study was undertaken in order to elucidate if there is any growth advantage conferred on benign neurofibroma explants following the introduction of b-FGF. Neurofibroma specimens from clinically diagnosed patients whom have undergone surgery was obtained and processed in accordance to the standard operating procedure of primary cell culture laboratory. Tissue explants were suspended in Debulcco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) with 1% penicillin and streptomycin. Cultures were grown at 37°C with 95% O 5% CO and 100% humidity. Culture medium was changed at interval of 2-3 2, 2, days until confluence was achieved. Cell culture analysis suggests an increase in cell proliferation as positive response to b-FGF in cell phenotypes with NF1-/+. Conversely, cell phenotypes with NF1+/+ did not respond to the addition of b-FGF in terms of cell proliferation. Indeed, the cells with NF1+/+ phenotypes exhibited the features reminiscence of cell arrest and or senescence. It is hypothesized herein, that cells with haploin sufficient NF1 gene (NF1+/-) and those with null
genotypes (NF1-/-) may be responsible for the proliferation of the neurofibroma in vivo and thus can be utilize as critical targets for therapeutic management of neurofibromatosis type-1.
Keywords: NF1, basic FGF, haploinsufficient NF1 gene, Schwann cells, Fibroblasts, Cell culture

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