Objective      To investigate the effect of SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 (Sox2) on neutrotrophin-3 (NT-3)-induced differentiation of rat brain-derived neural stem cells (NSCs).       Methods      NSCs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat embryos (14-15 d) and cultured in vitro. Then

NSCs were randomized into control group

25 ng/mL NT-3 group

50 ng/mL NT-3 group

and 100 ng/mL NT-3 group. After the cells in all the groups were cultured for 24 h

the expressions of Sox2

doublecortin (DCX)

oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2)

and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were assessed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. Besides

NSCs were randomized into control group

10 μmol/L PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor (LY294002) group

100 ng/mL NT-3 group

and LY294002 (10 μmol/L)+NT-3 (100 ng/mL) group. After the cells were cultured for 24 h

the expressions of AKT

p-AKT and Sox2 proteins were detected.       Results      The Sox2 protein expression was significantly up-regulated along with the concentration increase of NT-3 (P0.05)

and the proportion of neuronal precursor cells differentiated from the NSCs was increased in a dose-dependent manner (P0.05). The 100 ng/mL NT-3 group markedly up-regulated the expression of p-AKT and Sox2 proteins as compared with the control group (P0.05)

and the up-regulation could be blocked with LY294002 (P0.05).       Conclusion      Sox2 induces the differentiation of NSCs to neuronal precursor cells

and NT-3 up-regulates the Sox2 expression through activating PI3K/AKT signal pathway.