Regulation of store-operated and voltage-operated Ca2+ channels in the proliferation and death of oligodendrocyte precursor cells by golli proteins

OPCs (oligodendrocyte precursor cells) express golli proteins which, through regulation of Ca2+ influx, appear to be important in OPC process extension/retraction and migration. The aim of the present study was to examine further the role of golli in regulating OPC development. The effects of golli ablation and overexpression were examined in primary cultures of OPCs prepared from golli-KO (knockout) and JOE (golli J37-overexpressing) mice. In OPCs lacking golli, or overexpressing golli, differentiation induced by growth factor withdrawal was impaired. Proliferation analysis in the presence of PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor), revealed that golli enhanced the mitogen-stimulated proliferation of OPCs through activation of SOCCs (store-operated Ca2+ channels). PDGF treatment induced a biphasic increase in OPC intracellular Ca2+, and golli specifically increased Ca2+ influx during the second SOCC-dependent phase that followed the initial release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. This store-operated Ca2+ uptake appeared to be essential for cell division, since specific SOCC antagonists completely blocked the effects of PDGF and golli on OPC proliferation. Additionally, in OPCs overexpressing golli, increased cell death was observed after mitogen withdrawal. This phenomenon could be prevented by exposure to VOCC (voltage-operated Ca2+ channel) blockers, indicating that the effect of golli on cell death involved increased Ca2+ influx through VOCCs. The results showed a clear effect of golli on OPC development and support a role for golli in modulating multiple Ca2+-regulatory events through VOCCs and SOCCs. Our results also suggest that PDGF engagement of its receptor resulting in OPC proliferation proceeds through activation of SOCCs

Targeted overexpression of a golli–myelin basic protein isoform to oligodendrocytes results in aberrant oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination

Recently, several in vitro studies have shown that the golli–myelin basic proteins regulate Ca2+ homoeostasis in OPCs (oligodendrocyte precursor cells) and immature OLs (oligodendrocytes), and that a number of the functions of these cells are affected by cellular levels of the golli proteins. To determine the influence of golli in vivo on OL development and myelination, a transgenic mouse was generated in which the golli isoform J37 was overexpressed specifically within OLs and OPCs. The mouse, called JOE (J37-overexpressing), is severely hypomyelinated between birth and postnatal day 50. During this time, it exhibits severe intention tremors that gradually abate at later ages. After postnatal day 50, ultrastructural studies and Northern and Western blot analyses indicate that myelin accumulates in the brain, but never reaches normal levels. Several factors appear to underlie the extensive hypomyelination. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that golli overexpression causes a significant delay in OL maturation, with accumulation of significantly greater numbers of pre-myelinating OLs that fail to myelinate axons during the normal myelinating period. Immunohistochemical studies with cell death and myelin markers indicate that JOE OLs undergo a heightened and extended period of cell death and are unable to effectively myelinate until 2 months after birth. The results indicate that increased levels of golli in OPC/OLs delays myelination, causing significant cell death of OLs particularly in white matter tracts. The results provide in vivo evidence for a significant role of the golli proteins in the regulation of maturation of OLs and normal myelination

Region-Specific Myelin Pathology in Mice Lacking the Golli Products of the Myelin Basic Protein Gene

The myelin basic protein (MBP) gene encodes two families of proteins, the classic MBP constituents of myelin and the golli-MBPs, the function of which is less well understood. In this study, targeted ablation of the golli-MBPs, but not the classic MBPs, resulted in a distinct phenotype unlike that of knock-outs (KOs) of the classic MBPs or other myelin proteins. Although the golli KO animals did not display an overt dysmyelinating phenotype, they did exhibit delayed and/or hypomyelination in selected areas of the brain, such as the visual cortex and the optic nerve, as determined by Northern and Western blots and immunohistochemical analysis with myelin protein markers. Hypomyelination in some areas, such as the visual cortex, persisted into adulthood. Ultrastructural analysis of the KOs confirmed both the delay and hypomyelination and revealed abnormalities in myelin structure and in some oligodendrocytes. Abnormal visual-evoked potentials indicated that the hypomyelination in the visual cortex had functional consequences in the golli KO brain. Evidence that the abnormal myelination in these animals was a consequence of intrinsic problems with the oligodendrocyte was indicated by an impaired ability of oligodendrocytes to form myelin sheets in culture and by the presence of abnormal Ca^(2+) transients in purified cortical oligodendrocytes studied in vitro. The Ca^(2+) results reported in this study complement previous results implicating golli proteins in modulating intracellular signaling in T-cells. Together, all these findings suggest a role for golli proteins in oligodendrocyte differentiation, migration, and/or myelin elaboration in the brain

Tbr1 Regulates Differentiation of the Preplate and Layer 6

AbstractDuring corticogenesis, early-born neurons of the preplate and layer 6 are important for guiding subsequent neuronal migrations and axonal projections. Tbr1 is a putative transcription factor that is highly expressed in glutamatergic early-born cortical neurons. In Tbr1-deficient mice, these early-born neurons had molecular and functional defects. Cajal-Retzius cells expressed decreased levels of Reelin, resulting in a reeler-like cortical migration disorder. Impaired subplate differentiation was associated with ectopic projection of thalamocortical fibers into the basal telencephalon. Layer 6 defects contributed to errors in the thalamocortical, corticothalamic, and callosal projections. These results show that Tbr1 is a common genetic determinant for the differentiation of early-born glutamatergic neocortical neurons and provide insights into the functions of these neurons as regulators of cortical development

The multiple roles of myelin protein genes during the development of the oligodendrocyte

It has become clear that the products of several of the earliest identified myelin protein genes perform functions that extend beyond the myelin sheath. Interestingly, these myelin proteins, which comprise proteolipid protein, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase and the classic and golli MBPs (myelin basic proteins), play important roles during different stages of oligodendroglial development. These non-myelin-related functions are varied and include roles in the regulation of process outgrowth, migration, RNA transport, oligodendrocyte survival and ion channel modulation. However, despite the wide variety of cellular functions performed by the different myelin genes, the route by which they achieve these many functions seems to converge upon a common mechanism involving Ca2+ regulation, cytoskeletal rearrangements and signal transduction. In the present review, the newly emerging functions of these myelin proteins will be described, and these will then be discussed in the context of their contribution to oligodendroglial development

The Gli3 Hypomorphic Mutation Pdn Causes Selective Impairment in the Growth, Patterning, and Axon Guidance Capability of the Lateral Ganglionic Eminence

Previous studies have defined a requirement for Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in patterning the ventral telencephalon, a major source of the neuronal diversity found in the mature telencephalon. The zinc finger transcription factor Gli3 is a critical component of the Shh signaling pathway and its loss causes major defects in telencephalic development.Gli3is expressed in a graded manner along the dorsoventral axis of the telencephalon but it is unknown whetherGli3expression levels are important for dorsoventral telencephalic patterning. To address this, we used theGli3hypomorphic mouse mutantPolydactyly Nagoya(Pdn). We show that inPdn/Pdnembryos, the telencephalic expression ofGli3remains graded, butGli3mRNA and protein levels are reduced, resulting in an upregulation ofShhexpression and signaling. These changes mainly affect the development of the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE), with some disorganization of the medial ganglionic eminence mantle zone. The pallial/subpallial boundary is shifted dorsally and the production of postmitotic neurons is reduced. Moreover, LGE pioneer neurons that guide corticofugal axons into the LGE do not form properly, delaying the entry of corticofugal axons into the ventral telencephalon.Pdn/Pdnmutants also show severe pathfinding defects of thalamocortical axons in the ventral telencephalon. Transplantation experiments demonstrate that the intrinsic ability of thePdnventral telencephalon to guide thalamocortical axons is compromised. We conclude that correctGli3levels are particularly important for the LGE's growth, patterning, and development of axon guidance capabilities.</jats:p

Nonspecific esterase released from thymic macrophages accumulates in the apoptotic thymocytes: an indication for this enzyme participating in the clearance of apoptotic thymocytes

In the mouse thymus, a large number of developing thymocytes die through apoptosis each day. It has been proposed that thymic macrophages are responsible for clearance of the massive number of thymocytes that die through apoptosis. The detailed clearance mechanism by which macrophages remove the apoptotic cells is not clear Our in vitro studies in this report show that nonspecific esterase (NSE), a cytochemical marker enzyme of macrophages, was secreted from thymic macrophages as a consequence of stimulation by interaction with thymocytes, and the esterase accumulated in these macrophage-binding thymocytes (MBT). TUNEL staining demonstrated that these MBT were undergoing apoptosis. The inability to exclude eosin Y and the presence of pores on the plasma membrane were further evidence for the disintegration of these MBT. In vivo, the release of NSE was evident by the presence of NSE activity in the extracellular space between the macropahges and apoptotic thymocytes under the transmission electron microscope after dexamethasone injection, which causes massive apoptosis of thymocytes. Inhibition study showed that the inhibition of NSE delayed the MBT progressing to the late apoptotic phase. These results suggest that the NSE released from macrophages is involved in the clearance of apoptotic thymocytes.ImmunologySCI(E)PubMed0ARTICLE51386-13923