Human microvascular endothelial cell promotes the development of dorsal root ganglion neurons via BDNF pathway in a co-culture system.

Our previous study found that co-culture with human vascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) is beneficial for dorsal root ganglion cells (DRGCs). The goal of the present study is to investigate whether co-culture with HMVECs could promote the development of DRGCs, and whether this effect is induced by the secretion of BDNF by HMVECs. DRGCs were mono-cultured, co-cultured with HMVECs or co-cultured with HMVECs that pre-transfected with BDNF siRNA, the expression of neurite formation and branching factors were determined. The results showed that transfecting with BDNF siRNA inhibited BDNF expression and reduced BDNF secretion. Co-culture with HMVECs increased the expression of Etv4, Etv5, FN-L, FN-M, and GAP-43 in DRGCs that accompanied by the activation of ERK pathway. However, these changes were all reversed by the inhibition of BDNF in HMVECs. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that HMVECs potentiated DRGCs development at least partly by the secretion of BDNF in the co-culture system.