ENGRAILED-1 transcription factor exerts a paracrine neurotrophic activity on adult spinal cord α-motoneurons

ABSTRACT: Several homeoprotein transcription factors transfer between cells and regulate gene expression, protein translation, and chromatin organization in recipient cells. ENGRAILED-1 is one such homeoproteins expressed in spinal V1 interneurons synapsing on a-motoneurons. Neutralizing extracellular ENGRAILED-1 by expressing a secreted single-chain antibody blocks its capture by spinal motoneurons resulting in a-motoneurons loss and muscular weakness. A similar but stronger phenotype is observed in the Engrailed-1 heterozygote mouse, confirming that ENGRAILED-1 exerts a paracrine neurotrophic activity on spinal cord a-motoneurons. Intrathecal injection of ENGRAILED-1 leads to its specific internalization by spinal motoneurons and has long-lasting protective effects against neurodegeneration and we

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus (mouse)

SUBMITTER:  

PROVIDER: S-BSST961 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other