IGF-I and FGF-2 coordinately enhance cyclin D1 and cyclin E-cdk2 association and activity to promote G1 progression in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.

A critical question in developmental neurobiology is how stem and progenitor cells interpret multiple signals to decide whether to proliferate or exit the cell cycle. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 have known functions individually in development of neural stem cells as well as more restricted neuronal and glial progenitor cells. The goal of this study was to elucidate how IGF-I and FGF-2 coordinately regulate the cell cycle machinery in primary oligodendrocyte progenitors (OPs). IGF-I/FGF-2 synergistically increased the numbers of OP cells recruited into S phase. IGF-I enhanced FGF-2 induction of cyclin D1, activation of G(1) cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) complexes, and hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Moreover, IGF-I was required for G(2)/M progression. In contrast, FGF-2 decreased levels of the cdk inhibitor p27(Kip1) associated with cyclin E-cdk2. These studies provide a mechanistic basis for coordinate regulation of cell cycle progression in progenitor cells by multiple growth factors.