Enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 in the subventricular zone of stroke-lesioned rats

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor for VEGF-C and VEGF-D, has recently been proposed to be involved in adult hippocampal neurogenesis in response to cerebral ischemia. To identify whether VEGFR-3 is involved in poststroke neurogenesis, we investigated the temporal regulation of VEGFR-3 mRNA expression in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of rats with transient focal cerebral ischemia by in situ hybridization analysis, and identified the phenotypes of cells expressing VEGFR-3 by double- and triple-labeling techniques. In sham-operated rats, hybridization signals for VEGFR-3 mRNA were evident at a weaker intensity in the SVZ of the lateral ventricle. VEGFR-3 was transiently increased in the dorsolateral SVZ of the infarcted hemisphere on days 3–7 after reperfusion. Almost all VEGFR-3-expressing cells in the ipsilateral SVZ were colabeled with glial fibrillary acidic protein and the neural progenitor marker nestin, and were highly proliferative. In addition, a subset of VEGFR-3-labeled cells in the ipsilateral SVZ expressed the immature neuronal marker, polysialic acid-neural cell adhesion molecule. These data indicate that VEGFR-3 is upregulated in SVZ astrocytes and immature neurons after focal ischemia, suggesting that VEGFR-3 might mediate the adult neurogenesis after ischemic stroke.     

局灶性脑缺血后侧脑室室下区神经发生及其与血管内皮生长因子关系的研究

为了研究成年大鼠局灶性脑缺血后侧脑室室下区(SVZ)神经发生的情况及其与血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的关系,探讨脑缺血后神经发生及其调控机制,本研究通过大脑中动脉阻断法(MCAO)建立大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型,5-溴-2-脱氧尿核苷(BrdU)标记增殖的神经前体细胞,用免疫荧光双标记法动态检测BrdU、TuJ1、MAP-2、GFAP的表达,同时观察增殖细胞表达VEGF及其受体情况。结果显示:与对照组相比,大鼠SVZ的BrdU阳性细胞数在脑缺血后4 d组明显增加,14 d组达到高峰;Br-dU/TuJ1、BrdU/MAP-2阳性双标细胞数在脑缺血后14 d组开始增加,28 d组达到高峰;但BrdU/GFAP阳性双标细胞数则无明显变化;增殖的BrdU阳性细胞同时表达VEGF及其受体FLK-1。以上结果提示:大鼠局灶性脑缺血可激活SVZ自体神经前体细胞原位增殖、分化,且增殖的细胞同时表达VEGF及其受体可能是脑缺血后神经发生增强的调节机制之一。     

大鼠局灶性短暂脑缺血后前脑室下带的神经发生

目的：观察大鼠短暂性局灶性脑缺血后前脑室下带(SVZ)神经发生的增殖规律。方法：将SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、假手术组和缺血实验组，缺血实验组再分为缺血后1、4、7、10、14d组。线栓法制作局灶性脑缺血模型；BrdU标记S期细胞并用免疫组织化学方法检测含BrdU的阳性细胞；测量SVZ区域BrdU阳性细胞核的总面积。结果：在缺血侧，缺血后4d BrdU阳性细胞核的总面积明显增加，7d时达到峰值，随后开始下降，在14d时明显下降，但仍高于正常对照组；在缺血对侧，该区域也表现出同样的表达规律，在缺血后10d达到峰值，但增幅较小。结论：短暂性局灶性脑缺血可促进前脑室下带的神经发生，提示成年脑有潜在的自我修复能力。     

Ischemic preconditioning enhances neurogenesis in the subventricular zone

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) before subsequent prolonged ischemia is considered an emerging endogenous means of ischemic brain protection. We tested whether IPC induces endogenous neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and angiogenesis in the peri-ischemic area. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was administered to rats by filament insertion for 10 min (IPC) and/or 2 h (prolonged focal ischemia [PFI]). IPC alone increased 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) (+) cells 2.5-fold in the SVZ compared with controls at 7 days. The numbers of BrdU/doublecortin (Dcx) or BrdU/neuronal nuclei (NeuN) double-labeled cells also increased, but extents of BrdU/glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) double-labeling in the SVZ were not different. The IPC+PFI group showed about a 40% reduction in infarct volume. PFI increased BrdU (+) cells in the SVZ, and this was greatly enhanced by IPC treatment. The number of BrdU/Dcx double-labeled cells was strongly increased in ischemic brains administered IPC. Differentiation into mature neurons was also enhanced at 14 and 28 days. In addition, IPC significantly promoted angiogenesis in the ischemic penumbra as indicated by von Willebrand factor (vWF) staining. Our results indicate that IPC enhances neurogenesis in the SVZ even without subsequent PFI, and also enhances neurogenesis and angiogenesis after subsequent PFI. We conclude that IPC confers neuroprotection, and also promotes endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis.     

Neurogenesis in the striatum of the quinolinic acid lesion model of Huntington's disease

The presence of ongoing neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain raises the exciting possibility that endogenous progenitor cells may be able to generate new neurons to replace cells lost through brain injury or neurodegenerative disease. We have recently demonstrated increased cell proliferation and the generation of new neurons in the Huntington's disease human brain. In order to better understand the potential role of endogenous neuronal replacement in neurodegenerative disorders and extend our initial observations in the human Huntington's disease brain, we examined the effect of striatal cell loss on neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adult rodent forebrain using the quinolinic acid (QA) lesion rat model of Huntington's disease. Cell proliferation and neurogenesis were assessed with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling and immunocytochemistry for cell type-specific markers. BrdU labeling demonstrated increased cell proliferation in the SVZ ipsilateral to the QA-lesioned striatum, resulting in expansion of the SVZ in the lesioned hemisphere. Quantification revealed that QA lesion-induced striatal cell loss produced a significant increase in the area of BrdU-immunoreactivity in the SVZ ipsilateral to the lesioned hemisphere between 1 and 14 days post-lesion compared with sham-lesioned animals, with the greatest increase observed at 7 days post-lesion. These changes were associated with an increase in cells in the anterior SVZ ipsilateral to the lesioned striatum expressing the antigenic marker for SVZ neuroblasts, doublecortin (Dcx). Importantly, we observed Dcx-positive cells extending from the SVZ into the QA-lesioned striatum where a subpopulation of newly generated cells expressed markers for immature and mature neurons. This study demonstrates that loss of GABAergic medium spiny projection neurons following QA striatal lesioning of the adult rat brain increases SVZ neurogenesis, leading to the putative migration of neuroblasts to damaged areas of the striatum and the formation of new neurons.     

N400 involvement in the processing of action sequences

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a neurotrophic and vasoactive factor, and has therapeutic potential for some central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In this study, we used the intranasal pathway to administer bFGF in adult rats, and evaluated its neuroprotective benefits and effects on endogenous neural stem cells. The bFGF levels after intranasal administration in normal rats were determined by western blot. Transient focal ischemia was achieved by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h. bFGF was given intranasally 2 h after reperfusion and daily thereafter on 3 successive days. Dividing progenitor cells were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) on day 3 of reperfusion. Rats were killed the next day after BrdU labeling. bFGF levels were significantly raised in the olfactory bulb (OB) and striatum following intranasal administration. Intranasal bFGF treatment improved neurological function and reduced infarct volume after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, while no influence was observed on the blood pressure. And the BrdU incorporation was enhanced in the ipsilateral subventricular zone (SVZ) and striatum following intranasal administration of bFGF. These results demonstrated that bFGF can be directly delivered into brain following intranasal administration, and protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. The protective effects may be attributed to the reduction of infarct volume and enhancement of endogenous progenitors in brain. Therefore, intranasal administration of bFGF may provide an alternative treatment for brain ischemia and some other CNS disorders.     

Increased progenitor cell proliferation and astrogenesis in the partial progressive 6-hydroxydopamine model of Parkinson's disease

The existence of endogenous progenitor cells in the adult mammalian brain presents an exciting and attractive alternative to existing therapeutic options for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). However, prior to designing endogenous cell therapies, the effect of PD neuropathology on endogenous progenitor cell proliferation and their neurogenic potential must be investigated. This study examined the effect of dopaminergic cell loss on the proliferation and differentiation of subventricular zone- (SVZ) and midbrain-derived progenitor cells in the adult rodent brain, using the partial progressive 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion model of PD. Cell proliferation and differentiation were assessed with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling and immunohistochemistry for cell type-specific markers. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry demonstrated a complete loss of nigrostriatal projections in the striatum and a subsequent progressive loss of dopamine (DA) cells in the SN. Quantification indicated that 6-OHDA lesion-induced cell degeneration produced a significant increase in BrdU immunoreactivity in the SVZ, ipsilateral to the lesioned hemisphere from 3 to 21 days post-lesion, compared with sham-lesioned animals. Similarly, in the striatum we observed a significant increase in the total number of BrdU positive cells in 6-OHDA-lesioned animals at all time points examined. More importantly, a significant increase in midbrain-derived BrdU positive cells was demonstrated in 6-OHDA-lesioned animals 28 days post-lesion. While we did not detect neurogenesis, BrdU labeled cells co-expressing the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were widely distributed throughout the 6-OHDA-lesioned striatum at all time points. In contrast, BrdU-labeled cells in the SN of 6-OHDA-lesioned animals did not co-express neural markers. These results demonstrate that DA-ergic neurodegeneration in the partial progressive 6-OHDA-lesioned rat brain increases SVZ- and midbrain-derived progenitor cell proliferation. While, newborn striatal progenitors undergo robust astrogenesis, newborn midbrain-derived progenitors remain in an undifferentiated state suggesting local environments differentially regulate endogenous progenitor cell populations in PD.     

The Notch pathway mediates expansion of a progenitor pool and neuronal differentiation in adult neural progenitor cells after stroke

Molecular mechanisms by which stroke increases neurogenesis have not been fully investigated. Using neural progenitor cells isolated from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adult rat subjected to focal cerebral ischemia, we investigated the Notch pathway in regulating proliferation and differentiation of adult neural progenitor cells after stroke. During proliferation of neural progenitor cells, ischemic neural progenitor cells exhibited substantially increased levels of Notch, Notch intracellular domain (NICD), and hairy enhancer of split (Hes) 1, which was associated with a significant increase of proliferating cells. Blockage of the Notch pathway by short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) against Notch or a γ secretase inhibitor significantly reduced Notch, NICD and Hes1 expression and cell proliferation induced by stroke. During differentiation of neural progenitor cells, Notch and Hes1 expression was downregulated in ischemic neural progenitor cells, which was coincident with a significant increase of neuronal population. Inhibition of the Notch pathway with a γ secretase inhibitor further substantially increased neurons, but did not alter astrocyte population in ischemic neural progenitor cells. These data suggest that the Notch signaling pathway mediates adult SVZ neural progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation after stroke.     

成年和老年大鼠局灶性脑缺血后脑室下区细胞的增殖分化

目的：比较老年和成年大鼠局灶性脑缺血后脑室下区（SVZ）神经干细胞的增殖与分化。方法：制作大脑中动脉梗死模型,用免疫组化法检测SVZ的5-溴脱氧尿核苷（BrdU）、神经元核抗原（NeuN）及胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）阳性细胞数的变化。结果：SVZ的BrdU阳性细胞在正常组和假手术组成年大鼠明显多于老年大鼠。实验组成年和老年大鼠均在缺血后增加,28d时仍高于正常水平,但成年大鼠各时间点均明显高于老年大鼠。在新生细胞中部分细胞是Brdu／NeuN或BrdU／GFAP双标细胞,但老年大鼠Brdu／NeuN双标细胞明显少于成年大鼠。结论：大鼠脑缺血激活SVZ神经干细胞增殖能力,成年大鼠明显强于老年大鼠,且新生细胞分化为神经元的比例也明显高于老年大鼠。     

局灶性脑缺血后老年大鼠室管膜下区和颗粒下层细胞增殖与分化的实验研究

目的观察老年大鼠局灶性脑缺血后室管膜下区（SVZ）和颗粒下层（SGZ）神经干细胞的增殖与分化.方法取老年大鼠制作大脑中动脉梗塞模型.用5-溴脱氧尿核苷（BrdU）脉冲标记结合免疫组织化学单标记技术,观察正常组、假手术组、脑缺血后3、7、14、21、28 d组SVZ和SGZ区BrdU阳性细胞的变化;用BrdU累积标记结合免疫组织化学双标技术,观察脑缺血14 d后SVZ和SGZ区BrdU/NeuN和BrdU/GFAP双标阳性细胞的数量.结果在正常组、假手术组及各脑缺血组大鼠的双侧SVZ和SGZ均可观察到BrdU阳性细胞.与正常组和假手术组相比,脑缺血后SVZ和SGZ区BrdU阳性细胞明显增加.缺血组SVZ区BrdU阳性细胞在脑缺血后7 d时达到高峰,28 d时仍高于正常水平;SGZ区BrdU阳性细胞在脑缺血后14 d时达到高峰,28 d时仍高于正常水平.通过BrdU累积标记和免疫组织化学双标发现：脑缺血14 d后,老年大鼠SVZ区有部分细胞显示BrdU/NeuN（0.98%）或BrdU/GFAP（12.56%）双标阳性,而SGZ区未见双标细胞.结论局灶性脑缺血可激活老年大鼠室管膜下区和颗粒下层的神经干细胞明显增殖,并且室管膜下区有部分增殖细胞可分化为神经元或神经胶质.     

Ischemia induces cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the gerbil hippocampus in response to neuronal death

We studied hippocampal cellular proliferation and neurogenesis processes in a model of transient global cerebral ischemia in gerbils by labelling dividing cells with 5'-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Surrounding the region of selective neuronal death (CA1 pyramidal layer of the hippocampus), an important increase in reactive astrocytes and BrdU-labelled cells was detected 5 days after ischemia. A similar result was found in the dentate gyrus (DG) 12 days after ischemia. The differentiation of the BrdU+ cells was investigated 28 days after BrdU administration by analyzing the morphology, anatomic localization and cell phenotype by triple fluorescent labelling (BrdU, adult neural marker NeuN and DNA marker TOPRO-3) using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. This analysis showed increased neurogenesis in the DG in case of ischemia and triple positive labelling in some newborn cells in CA1. Seven brain hemispheres from gerbils subjected to ischemia did not develop CA1 neuronal death; hippocampus from these hemispheres did not show any of the above mentioned findings. Our results indicate that ischemia triggers proliferation in CA1 and neurogenesis in the DG in response to CA1 pyramidal neuronal death, independently of the reduced cerebral blood flow or the cell migration from subventricular zone (SVZ).     

Proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells in the cortex and the subventricular zone in the adult rat after focal cerebral ischemia

Progenitor cells in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus can proliferate throughout the life of the animal. To examine the proliferation and fate of progenitor cells in the subventricular zone and dentate gyrus after focal cerebral ischemia, we measured the temporal and spatial profiles of proliferation of cells and the phenotypic fate of proliferating cells in ischemic brain in a model of embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion in the adult rat. Proliferating cells were labeled by injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in a pulse or a cumulative protocol. To determine the temporal profile of proliferating cells, ischemic rats were injected with BrdU every 4 h for 12 h on the day preceding death. Rats were killed 2-14 days after ischemia. We observed significant increases in numbers of proliferating cells in the ipsilateral cortex and subventricular zone 2-14 days with a peak at 7 days after ischemia compared with the control group. To maximize labeling of proliferating cells, a single daily injection of BrdU was administered over a 14-day period starting the day after ischemia. Rats were killed either 2 h or 28 days after the last injection of BrdU. A significant increase in numbers of BrdU immunoreactive cells in the subventricular zone was coincident with a significant increase in numbers of BrdU immunoreactive cells in the olfactory bulb 14 days after ischemia and numbers of BrdU immunoreactive cells did not significantly increase in the dentate gyrus. However, 28 days after the last labeling, the number of BrdU labeled cells decreased by 90% compared with number at 14 days. Clusters of BrdU labeled cells were present in the cortex distal to the infarction. Numerous cells immunostained for the polysialylated form of the neuronal cell adhesion molecule were detected in the ipsilateral subventricular zone. Only 6% of BrdU labeled cells exhibited glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the cortex and subcortex and no BrdU labeled cells expressed neuronal protein markers (neural nuclear protein and microtubule associated protein-2). From these data we suggest that focal cerebral ischemia induces transient and regional specific increases in cell proliferation in the ipsilateral hemisphere and that proliferating progenitor cells may exist in the adult cortex.     

Wnt expression in the adult rat subventricular zone after stroke

Neurogenesis occurs in adult brain neural progenitor cells (NPCs) located in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle and the subgrandular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. After ischemic stroke, NPCs in the SVZ proliferate and migrate towards the ischemic boundary region to replenish damaged neurons. During development, the Wnt pathways contribute to stem cell maintenance and promote neurogenesis. We hypothesized that stroke up regulates Wnt family genes in SVZ cells. Non-ischemic and ischemic cultured SVZ cells and a single population of non-ischemic and ischemic SVZ cells isolated by laser capture microdissection (LCM) were analyzed for Wnt pathway expression using real-time RT-PCR and immunostaining. The number of neurospheres increased significantly (p<0.05) in SVZ cells derived from ischemic (32+/-4.7/rat) compared with the number in non-ischemic SVZ cells (18+/-3/rat). Wnt family gene mRNA levels were detected in SVZ cells isolated from both cultured and LCM SVZ cells, however there was no up regulation between non-ischemic and ischemic SVZ cells. Immunostaining on brain sections also demonstrated no up regulation of Wnt pathway protein between ischemic and non-ischemic SVZ cells. Expression of the Wnt family genes in SVZ cells support the hypothesis that the Wnt pathway may be involved in neurogenesis in the adult brain. However, ischemia does not up regulate Wnt family gene expression.     

Sustained increase in adult neurogenesis in the rat hippocampal dentate gyrus after transient brain ischemia

It is known that the number of newly generated neurons is increased in the young and adult rodent subventricular zone (SVZ) and dentate gyrus (DG) after transient brain ischemia. However, it remains unclear whether increase in neurogenesis in the adult DG induced by ischemic stroke is transient or sustained. We here reported that from 2 weeks to 6 months after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), there were more doublecortin positive (DCX+) cells in the ipsilateral compared to the sham-control and contralateral DG of the adult rat. After the S-phase marker 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected 2 days after MCAO to label newly generated cells, a large number of BrdU-labeled neuroblasts differentiated into mature granular neurons. These BrdU-labeled neurons survived for at least 6 months. When BrdU was injected 6 weeks after injury, there were still more newly generated neuroblasts differentiated into mature neurons in the ipsilateral DG. Altogether, our data indicate that transient brain ischemia initiates a prolonged increase in neurogenesis and promotes the normal development of the newly generated neurons in the adult DG.     

成年鼠大脑皮质损伤后神经前体细胞的增殖、迁移和分化

探讨皮质损伤后室管膜下区(SVZ)神经前体细胞增殖、迁移和分化的变化。在立体定位仪上纵切SD大鼠的大脑皮质,于手术后10d腹腔注射BrdU,分别于术后10、13、16、19和21d处死动物。用BrdU、nestin、GFAP和NSE免疫组化单标或双标染色方法,观察损伤后神经前体细胞增殖、迁移和分化的情况。结果显示:损伤后第10d,除损伤区出现大量BrdU阳性细胞外,SVZ背外侧角也聚集大量BrdU阳性细胞;第13d时,SVZ背外侧角的BrdU阳性细胞开始沿胼胝体向损伤区迁移;至第16d和19d,BrdU阳性细胞已迁移到SVZ背外侧角和损伤区之间;第21d时,BrdU阳性细胞已进到损伤区;BrdU阳性细胞为神经前体细胞,但未见分化为星形胶质细胞和神经元。结果提示机械性大脑皮质损伤可诱导SVZ背外侧角神经前体细胞增殖并引导向损伤区迁移,可能参与脑损伤后的修复。     

The nuclear receptor tailless is required for neurogenesis in the adult subventricular zone

The tailless (Tlx) gene encodes an orphan nuclear receptor that is expressed by neural stem/progenitor cells in the adult brain of the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG). The function of Tlx in neural stem cells of the adult SVZ remains largely unknown. We show here that in the SVZ of the adult brain Tlx is exclusively expressed in astrocyte-like B cells. An inducible mutation of the Tlx gene in the adult brain leads to complete loss of SVZ neurogenesis. Furthermore, analysis indicates that Tlx is required for the transition from radial glial cells to astrocyte-like neural stem cells. These findings demonstrate the crucial role of Tlx in the generation and maintenance of NSCs in the adult SVZ in vivo.     

Increase in neurogenesis and neuroblast migration after a small intracerebral hemorrhage in rats

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) reside in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and dentate gyrus in the adult mammalian brain. It has been reported that endogenous NPCs are activated after brain insults such as ischemic stroke. We investigated whether proliferation and migration of endogenous NPCs are increased after a collagenase-induced small intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) near the internal capsule in rats. Bromodeoxyuridin (BrdU) administration for 14 days after ICH (post-labeling) resulted in an increase in the number of BrdU-positive cells as shown in both ipsilateral and contralateral SVZs. BrdU treatment given for 2 days before ICH to label endogenous NPCs (pre-labeling), caused more BrdU-positive cells to be detected in the ipsilateral dorsal striatum (dSTR) compared to those in the contralateral dSTR 14 days after ICH. BrdU- and doublecortin (Dcx)-positive cells were found in the ipsilateral STR. An increase in the number of Dcx-positive migrating immature neurons was found in the dSTR and peri-hemorrhage area 14 days after ICH, and a cluster of Dcx-positive cells was found in the STR around the lesion 28 days after ICH. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was strongly expressed in wide area of the injured brain, particularly around the lesion 14 and 28 days after ICH. Dcx- and MMP-2-positive cells were detected in the ipsilateral STR near the lesion. These data suggest that collagenase-induced ICH enhances the proliferation of endogenous NPCs and the migration of newly born neuroblasts toward the hemorrhage area.     

新生大鼠脑缺血后脑室下区基因表达谱的生物信息学分析

目的建立3日龄大鼠脑缺血模型,采用基因芯片分析新生大鼠未成熟脑缺血损伤后脑室下区(SVZ)基因表达谱的变化。方法同窝3日龄大鼠随机分为实验组和对照组,采用双侧颈总动脉结扎法制备缺血性脑损伤模型,于不同时点取SVZ组织,采用Affymetrix Rat230 2.0基因表达谱芯片观察SVZ基因表达变化,芯片数据分别用3种不同方法分析,并用实时PCR方法验证芯片结果。结果①通过差异基因筛选,发现3日龄大鼠脑缺血损伤后SVZ有17个基因发生表达变化,其中上调基因10个,下调基因7个,这些基因参与多种功能的调节。②基于基因功能的表达趋势分析显示,在所有参与增殖、凋亡功能的基因中,转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)在3日龄大鼠脑缺血损伤后SVZ微环境基因表达变化中起枢纽作用。实时PCR验证结果显示,TGF-β1及Smad2于缺血后1、4和7 d表达均上升,7 d达高峰。③在参与Wnt、TGF、BMP和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)通路所有基因组成的基因功能相似性网络中,有13个基因在网络中起核心调控作用,构成信号通路串话节点。结论新生大鼠在脑缺血损伤后SVZ微环境中,参与神经新生的BMP、TGF、VEGF和Wnt通路间的串话...     

Selective upregulation of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh) expression in adult subventricular zone neurogenic niche

In the adult rodent brain, constitutive neurogenesis occurs in two restricted regions, the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, where multipotent neural stem/progenitor cells generate new neurons. Using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry for established markers, we demonstrated that the expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh), an enzyme involved in de novo synthesis of l-serine, was upregulated in the SVZ. The expression was selective to cells having morphological features and expressing markers of astrocyte-like primary neural stem cells (type B cells) and their progeny, actively proliferating progenitors (type C cells). By contrast, Phgdh protein expression was virtually absent in committed neuronal precursors (type A cells) derived from type C cells. High levels of Phgdh were also expressed by glial tube cells located in the rostral migratory stream (RMS). Interestingly, ensheathment of type A cells by these Phgdh-expressing cells was persistent in the SVZ and RMS, suggesting that l-serine mediates trophic support for type A cells via these glial cells. In vitro neurosphere assays confirmed that growth-factor-responsive, transient amplifying neural progenitors in the SVZ, but not differentiated neurons, expressed Phgdh. In the aged brain, a decline in Phgdh expression was evident in type B and C cells of the SVZ. These observations support the notion that availability of l-serine within neural stem/progenitor cells may be a critical factor for neurogenesis in developing and adult brain.