Retinoic-acid-mediated HRas stabilization induces neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells during brain development.

J Cell Sci

Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea

Published: August 2016

Ras signaling is tightly regulated during neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation, and defects in this pathway result in aberrant brain development. However, the mechanism regulating Ras signaling during NSC differentiation was unknown. Here, we show that stabilized HRas specifically induces neuronal differentiation of NSCs. Lentivirus-mediated HRas overexpression and knockdown resulted in stimulation and inhibition, respectively, of NSC differentiation into neuron in the ex vivo embryo. Retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A, promoted neuronal differentiation of NSCs by stabilizing HRas, and HRas knockdown blocked the retinoic acid effect. Vitamin-A-deficient mice displayed abnormal brain development with reduced HRas levels and a reduced thickness of the postmitotic region containing differentiated neurons. All of these abnormal phenotypes were rescued with the restoration of HRas protein levels achieved upon feeding with a retinoic-acid-supplemented diet. In summary, this study shows that retinoic acid stabilizes HRas protein during neurogenesis, and that this is required for NSC differentiation into neurons and murine brain development.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.184366DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

brain development
16
nsc differentiation
16
neuronal differentiation
12
retinoic acid
12
induces neuronal
8
neural stem
8
ras signaling
8
differentiation nscs
8
hras protein
8
differentiation
7

Similar Publications

GABAergic Progenitor Cell Graft Rescues Cognitive Deficits in Fragile X Syndrome Mice.

Adv Sci (Weinh)

January 2025

Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, China.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an inherited neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a range of clinical manifestations with no effective treatment strategy to date. Here, transplantation of GABAergic precursor cells from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) is demonstrated to significantly improve cognitive performance in Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice. Within the hippocampus of Fmr1-KO mice, MGE-derived cells from wild-type donor mice survive, migrate, differentiate into functionally mature interneurons, and form inhibitory synaptic connections with host pyramidal neurons.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Permeability is a measure of the degree to which cells can transport molecules across biological barriers. Units of permeability are distance per unit time (typically cm/s), where accurate measurements are needed to define drug delivery in homeostasis and to model dysfunction occurring during disease. This perspective offers a set of community-led guidelines to benchmark permeability data across multidisciplinary approaches and different biological contexts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: To examine the longitudinal association between estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) and cognitive phenotypes in a rural Chinese older population.

Methods: This population-based study included 1857 dementia-free participants (age ≥60 years) who were examined in 2014 and followed in 2018. ePWV was calculated using age and mean blood pressure (MBP).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Extraneural metastases (ENM) from glioblastoma (GBM) remain extremely rare with only a scarce number of cases described in the literature. The lack of cases leads to no consensus on the optimal treatment and follow-up of these patients.

Research Question: Do patient or tumor characteristics describe risk factors for ENM in GBM patients, and is it possible to identify mechanisms of action?

Material And Methods: This study presents a 55-year-old man with diagnosed GBM who was referred to a CT due to reduced general condition and mild back pain which revealed extensive systemic metastases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The introduction of intraoperative fluorophores represented a significant advancement in neurosurgical practice. Nowadays they found different applications: in oncology to improve the visualization of tumoral tissue and optimize resection rates and in vascular neurosurgery to assess the exclusion of vascular malformations or the permeability of bypasses, with real-time intraoperative evaluations.

Research Question: A comprehensive knowledge of how fluorophores work is crucial to maximize their benefits and to incorporate them into daily neurosurgical practice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!