Endogenous expression of matriptase in neural progenitor cells promotes cell migration and neuron differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies show that type II transmembrane serine proteases play important roles in diverse cellular activities and pathological processes. Their expression and functions in the central nervous system, however, are largely unexplored. In this study, we show that the expression of one such member, matriptase (MTP), was cell type-restricted and primarily expressed in neural progenitor (NP) cells and neurons. Blocking MTP expression or MTP activity prevented NP cell traverse of reconstituted basement membrane, whereas overexpression of MTP promoted it. The NP cell mobilization induced by either vascular endothelial growth factor or hepatocyte growth factor was also impaired by knocking down MTP expression. MTP acts upstream of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in promoting NP cell mobility. In e

SUBMITTER: Fang JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3037680 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature