A function for the calponin family member NP25 in neurite outgrowth.

The neuronal protein 25 (NP25), a member of the calponin (CaP) protein family, has previously been identified as neuron-specific protein in the adult rat brain. Here, we show an early onset of NP25 expression in the chick embryo neural tube. NP25 represents, together with NeuroM, one of the earliest markers for postmitotic neurons.

Target-dependent specification of the neurotransmitter phenotype: cholinergic differentiation of sympathetic neurons is mediated in vivo by gp 130 signaling.

Sympathetic neurons are generated through a succession of differentiation steps that initially lead to noradrenergic neurons innervating different peripheral target tissues. Specific targets, like sweat glands in rodent footpads, induce a change from noradrenergic to cholinergic transmitter phenotype. Here, we show that cytokines acting through the gp 130 receptor are present in sweat glands.

The developmental expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in cholinergic sympathetic neurons depends on cytokines signaling through LIFRbeta-containing receptors.

Sympathetic ganglia are composed of noradrenergic and cholinergic neurons. Cholinergic sympathetic neurons are characterized by the expression of choline acetyl transferase (ChAT), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). To investigate the role of cytokine growth factor family members in the development of cholinergic sympathetic neurons, we interfered in vivo with the function of the subclass of cytokine receptors that contains LIFRbeta as essential receptor subunit.