We demonstrate for the first time that the extracellular matrix glycoprotein Tenascin-C regulates the expression of key patterning genes during late embryonic spinal cord development, leading to a timely maturation of gliogenic neural precursor cells. We first show that Tenascin-C is expressed by gliogenic neural precursor cells during late embryonic development. The loss of Tenascin-C leads to a sustained generation and delayed migration of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 expressing immature astrocytes in vivo. Furthermore, we could demonstrate an upregulation of Nk2 transcription factor related locus 2 (Nkx2.2) and its downstream target Sulfatase 1 in vivo. A dorsal expansion of Nkx2.2-positive cells within the ventral spinal cord indicates a potential progenitor cell domain shift. Moreover, Sulfatase 1 is known to regulate growth factor signalling by cleaving sulphate residues from heparan sulphate proteoglycans. Consistent with this possibility we observed changes in both Fibroblast growth factor 2 and Epidermal growth factor responsiveness of spinal cord neural precursor cells. Taken together our data clearly show that Tenascin-C promotes the astroglial lineage progression during spinal cord development.
The extracellular matrix molecule tenascin C modulates expression levels and territories of key patterning genes during spinal cord astrocyte specification.
Specimen part
View SamplesIntegrins have long been known to have a role in adhesion of neural stem cells within the neuroepithelium, but little is known about their role in regulating stem cell behaviour through signalling. We aimed to investigate the effect of integrin-beta 1 signalling (itgb1) on these cells by transfection of a constitutively active itgb1. This creates a heterogenous pattern of expression allowing the study of cell-autonomous and non-cell autonomous effects.
Integrin signalling regulates the expansion of neuroepithelial progenitors and neurogenesis via Wnt7a and Decorin.
Specimen part
View SamplesMidbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons degenerate in Parkinson's disease and are one of the main targets for cell replacement therapies. A comprehensive view of the signals and cell types contributing to mDA neurogenesis is not yet available. By analyzing the transcriptome of the mouse ventral midbrain at tissue and single-cell level during mDA neurogenesis we found that three recently identified radial glia types (Rgl 1-3) contribute to different key aspects of mDA neurogenesis. While Rgl3 expressed most extracellular matrix components and multiple ligands for various pathways controlling mDA neuron development, such as Wnt and Shh, Rgl1-2 expressed most receptors. Moreover, we found that specific transcription factor networks explain the transcriptome expression profiles and suggest a function for each individual radial glia type. Overall design: Triplicate tissue samples from each combination of embryonic day E11.5, E12.5, E13.5, and E14.5 with brain region alar plate, dorsal midbrain, ventral forebrain, ventral hindbrain, and ventral midbrain.
The Matricellular Protein R-Spondin 2 Promotes Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurogenesis and Differentiation.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesInvestigations into the roles for Pbx1 and its transcriptional network in dopaminergic neuron development and Parkinson's Disease Overall design: Three samples each from dorsal midbrain, forebrain, hindbrain, Alar plate, and ventral midbrain
The Matricellular Protein R-Spondin 2 Promotes Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurogenesis and Differentiation.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesEmbryonic CNS neurons can differentiate in culture and provide a model for maturation-related changes. A transcriptome profile over the course of maturation was perform to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism that drives maturation and its related changes such as developmental loss of intrinsic regenerative capacity. Overall design: Primary cortical neurons were excised from E18 rat embryos and were co-cultured with primary rat astrocytes from P0-2 rats. RNA were then extracted on day 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 after plating.
Selective rab11 transport and the intrinsic regenerative ability of CNS axons.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe used transcription-profiling to identify mitogen-activated protein kinase (Mapk) signaling as an important regulator involved in the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into oligodendrocytes. We show in tissue culture that activation of Mapk signaling by elevation of intracellular levels of cAMP using administration of either dibutyryl-cAMP or inhibitors of the cAMP-hydrolyzing enzyme phosphodiesterase-4 (Pde4) enhances OPC differentiation. Finally, we demonstrate that systemic delivery of a Pde4 inhibitor leads to enhanced differentiation of OPCs within focal areas of toxin-induced demyelination and a consequent acceleration of remyelination.
Retinoid X receptor gamma signaling accelerates CNS remyelination.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe used microarrays to detail the global program of gene expression underlying Parkinson's disease
A genomic pathway approach to a complex disease: axon guidance and Parkinson disease.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesSome infectious agents are associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma development. Here we have used p53-deficient mice chronically injected with Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) with the aim to develop an animal model of infection-associated lymphomagenesis. We show that repeated stimulations with heat-killed Spn significantly enhanced the incidence of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in these mice. Phenotypic studies and gene expression profile analyses indicate that these PTCL arose from chronically stimulated natural killer T (NKT) cells, a T cell lineage that exhibits unique properties. Furthermore, lymphoma development was blocked when these PTCL were transferred to recipients lacking CD1d expression or treated with blocking CD1d mAbs, thus demonstrating that in vivo TCR/CD1d interactions are required for these PTCL survival. In conclusion, we have identified a new entity of peripheral T-cell lymphoma that originates from CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells. Our results could refine the classification of PTCL and pave the way for the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches.
CD1d-restricted peripheral T cell lymphoma in mice and humans.
Age, Specimen part
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