Transferrin regulates transcription of the MBP gene and its action synergizes with IGF-1 to enhance myelinogenesis in the md rat.

Myelin-deficient (md) rats and their unaffected littermates were injected at postnatal day 4 either with a single dose of transferrin (Tf) or insulin-like growth factor one (IGF-1) singly or combined. Two weeks later, their brains were perfused and coronal sections were analyzed for MBP by in situ hybridization and for transferrin and myelin basic protein (Tf and MBP) by double immunofluorescence. Each of the factors separately had an effect on mutant animals as seen by both increased OL maturation, and MBP mRNA and protein synthesis. The combination of factors resulted in a profound enhancement of the myelinogenic properties of oligodendrocytes (OL) with a consequent increase in the number of MBP-labeled fibers. The brains of unaffected littermates also responded to growth factor(s) injection either by increasing myelination in some brain areas or by regulating the synthesis of MBP in OL. Using rat OL cultures we studied the site of transferrin action for the expression of MBP gene. We found by run off transcription that the MBP mRNA was significantly increased at the nuclear level but the PLP message was unaffected. Thus, transferrin selectively regulates MBP at the transcriptional level and together with IGF-1 synergizes to increase both the maturation and myelinogenic properties of md and normal OL. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel