Transcriptional changes during astrocyte maturation in vivo and in culture

Analysis of gene expression during astrocyte differentiation and maturation in vivo and in vitro in mouse, and investigation of transcription factors and extrinsic conditions influencing maturation Overall design: In vivo astrocytes were purified from mice using anti-ACSA2 MACS at indicated ages. In vitro astrocytes were differentiated from cultured neural stem/progenitor cells (cultured in EGF/FGF2 medium) using BMP4 for 14 days (without EGF/FGF2). Where indicated, astrocytes in vitro were infected with transgenes and gene expression induced from day 7 to 14, or astrocytes differentiated for 7 days in BMP4 in normal 2D cultures or in 3D cultures were matured for 7 days in basal medium or FGF2 containing medium. Cells were analysed by bulk RNA-Seq.