Forced expression of Phox2 homeodomain transcription factors induces a branchio-visceromotor axonal phenotype

What causes motor neurons to project into the periphery is not well understood. We here show that forced expression of the homeodomain protein Phox2b, shown previously to be necessary and sufficient for branchio-visceromotor neuron development, and of its paralogue Phox2a imposes a branchiomotor-like axonal phenotype in the spinal cord. Many Phox2-transfected neurons, whose axons would normally stay within the confines of the neural tube, now project into the periphery. Once outside the neural tube, a fraction of the ectopic axons join the spinal accessory nerve, a branchiomotor nerve which, as shown here, does not develop in the absence of Phox2b. Explant studies show that the axons of Phox2-transfected neurons need attractive cues to leave the neural tube and that their outgrowth is promoted by tissues, to which branchio-visceromotor fibers normally grow. Hence, Phox2 expression is a key step in determining the peripheral axonal phenotype and thus the decision to stay within the neural tube or to project out of it.     

Insulin is imprinted in the placenta of the marsupial, Macropus eugenii

Therian mammals (marsupials and eutherians) rely on a placenta for embryo survival. All mammals have a yolk sac, but while both chorio-allantoic and chorio-vitelline (yolk sac) placentation can occur, most marsupials only develop a yolk sac placenta. Insulin (INS) is unusual in that it is the only gene that is imprinted exclusively in the yolk sac placenta. Marsupials, therefore, provide a unique opportunity to examine the conservation of INS imprinting in mammalian yolk sac placentation. Marsupial INS was cloned and its imprint status in the yolk sac placenta of the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, examined. In two informative individuals of the eight that showed imprinting, INS was paternally expressed. INS protein was restricted to the yolk sac endoderm, while insulin receptor, IR, protein was additionally expressed in the trophoblast. INS protein increased during late gestation up to 2 days before birth, but was low the day before and on the day of birth. The conservation of imprinted expression of insulin in the yolk sac placenta of divergent mammalian species suggests that it is of critical importance in the yolk sac placenta. The restriction of imprinting to the yolk sac suggests that imprinting of INS evolved in the chorio-vitelline placenta independently of other tissues in the therian ancestor of marsupials and eutherians.     

Six1 is essential for early neurogenesis in the development of olfactory epithelium

The olfactory epithelium (OE) is derived from the olfactory placode (OP) during mouse development. At embryonic day (E) 10.0-E10.5, “early neurogenesis” occurs in the OE, which includes production of pioneer neurons that emigrate out of the OE and other early-differentiated neurons. Around E12.5, the OE becomes organized into mature pseudostratified epithelium and shows “established neurogenesis,” in which olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) are differentiated from basal progenitors. Little is known about the molecular pathway of early neurogenesis. The homeodomain protein Six1 is expressed in all OP cells and neurogenic precursors in the OE. Here we show that early neurogenesis is severely disturbed despite the unaltered expression of Mash1 at E10.5 in the Six1-deficient mice (Six1^−/−). Expression levels of neurogenin1 (Ngn1) and NeuroD are reduced and those of Hes1 and Hes5 are augmented in the OE of Six1^−/− at E10.5. Pioneer neurons and cellular aggregates, which are derived from the OP/OE and situated in the mesenchyme between the OE and forebrain, are completely absent in Six1^−/−. Moreover, ORN axons and the gonadotropin-releasing hormone-positive neurons fail to extend and migrate to the forebrain, respectively. Our study indicates that Six1 plays critical roles in early neurogenesis by regulating Ngn1, NeuroD, Hes1, and Hes5.     

Oligodendrocyte ablation affects the coordinated interaction between granule and Purkinje neurons during cerebellum development

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are the glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) classically known to be devoted to the formation of myelin sheaths around most axons of the vertebrate brain. We have addressed the role of these cells during cerebellar development, by ablating OLs in vivo. Previous analyses had indicated that OL ablation during the first six postnatal days results into a striking cerebellar phenotype, whose major features are a strong reduction of granule neurons and aberrant Purkinje cells development. These two cell types are highly interconnected during cerebellar development through the production of molecules that help their proliferation, differentiation and maintenance. In this article, we present data showing that OL ablation has major effects on the physiology of Purkinje (PC) and granule cells (GC). In particular, OL ablation results into a reduction of sonic hedgehog (Shh), Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and Reelin (Rln) expression. These results indicate that absence of OLs profoundly alters the normal cerebellar developmental program.     

Glutamate regulates neurite outgrowth of cultured descending brain neurons from larval lamprey

In larval lamprey, descending brain neurons, which regenerate their axons following spinal cord injury, were isolated and examined in cell culture to identify some of the factors that regulate neurite outgrowth. Focal application of 5 mM or 25 mM L-glutamate to single growth cones inhibited outgrowth of the treated neurite, but other neurites from the same neuron were not inhibited, an effect that has not been well studied for neurons in other systems. Glutamate-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth was abolished by 10 mM kynurenic acid. Application of high potassium media to growth cones inhibited neurite outgrowth, an effect that was blocked by 2 mM cobalt or 100 microM cadmium, suggesting that calcium influx via voltage-gated channels contributes to glutamate-induced regulation of neurite outgrowth. Application of glutamate to growth cones in the presence of 2 microM omega-conotoxin MVIIC (CTX) still inhibited neurite outgrowth, while CTX blocked high potassium-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Thus, CTX blocked virtually all of the calcium influx resulting from depolarization. To our knowledge, this is the first direct demonstration that calcium influx via ligand-gated ion channels can contribute to regulation of neurite outgrowth. Finally, focal application of glutamate to the cell bodies of descending brain neurons inhibited outgrowth of multiple neurites from the same neuron, and this is the first demonstration that multiple neurites can be regulated in this fashion. Signaling mechanisms involving intracellular calcium, similar to those shown here, may be important for regulating axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury in the lamprey.     

研究报告: EIF2B5表达下调的人星形胶质细胞与人神经元在内质网应激后细胞存活及miRNA表达的差异

目的 探讨白质消融性白质脑病中胶质细胞选择性受累而神经元受累轻微的原因。方法 将EIF2B5-RNAi表达载体转染至人星形胶质细胞和人神经元,检测基础状态下及内质网应激（endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS）后细胞凋亡和活力,检测参与ERS调控的已知和未知miRNA,筛选EIF2B5-RNAi人星形胶质细胞在ERS后miRNA变化。结果 与EIF2B5-RNAi人神经元相比,星形胶质细胞自发凋亡及细胞活力下降。较之神经元,更多miRNA参与星形胶质细胞ERS刺激后的调控,EIF2B5-RNAi组参与调控的miRNA数目显著减少。聚类分析发现,5条已知miRNA是通路连接的关键组分。结论 人星形胶质细胞在ERS后可能更加依赖众多促细胞增殖分化的miRNA修复,而EIF2B5-RNAi人星形胶质细胞存在自发凋亡,ERS后严重减少的miRNA可能导致细胞无法存活。     

Gene co-expression network analysis for identifying genetic markers in Parkinson's disease - a three-way comparative approach

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving progressive deterioration of dopaminergic neurons. Although few genetic markers for familial PD are known, the etiology of sporadic PD remains poorly understood. Microarray data was analysed for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from PD patients and mature neuronal cells (mDA) differentiated from these iPSCs. Combining expression and semantic similarity, a highly-correlated PD interactome was constructed that included interactions of established Parkinson's disease marker genes. A novel three-way comparative approach was employed, delineating topologically and functionally important genes. These genes showed involvement in pathways like Parkin-ubiquitin proteosomal system (UPS), immune associated biological processes and apoptosis. Of interest are three genes, eEF1A1, CASK, and PSMD6 that are linked to PARK2 activity in the cell and thereby form attractive candidate genes for understanding PD. Network biology approach delineated in this study can be applied to other neurodegenerative disorders for identification of important genetic regulators.     

Lentiviral-mediated silencing of mast cell-expressed membrane protein 1 promotes angiogenesis of rats with cerebral ischemic stroke

Cerebral ischemic stroke is a devastating neurological disease with high rates of morbidity, disability, and mortality. Lentiviral-mediated mast cell-expressed membrane protein 1 (MCEMP1) has been shown to function in ischemic stroke. Hence, this study aims to explore the function of MCEMP1 specifically in angiogenesis, neuronal proliferation, and apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemic stroke. Initially, stroke-related genes were obtained through microarray-based gene expression analysis, followed by the construction of a lentiviral vector for MCEMP1 shRNA and establishment of the middle cerebral artery occlusion model. After rats were transfected with MCEMP1 shRNA lentivirus, microvessel density (MVD), expression of MCEMP1, caspase-3, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and neuronal proliferation and apoptosis were measured to explore the role of MCEMP1 in cerebral ischemic stroke. MCEMP1 was found to be highly expressed in rats with cerebral ischemic stroke. Silencing of MCEMP1 led to upregulation of VEGF, while downregulation of caspase-3, and resulted in the promotion of MVD in rats with ischemic stroke. Moreover, MCEMP1 silencing could increase Ki67 positive cells and reduce terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling positive cells in the marginal zone of cortical infarction in rats. Our study provides evidence that silenced MCEMP1 could enhance angiogenesis and suppress neuronal apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemic stroke, highlighting that MCEMP1 silencing could serve as a therapeutic target for cerebral ischemic stroke treatment.