Project description:Effects of Nurr1 silencing and treatment with Nurr1 ligand Simvastatin in presence or absence of LPS-stimulus on gene expression in human astrocytes (T98G).
Project description:The transcription factor nurr1 plays a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of neurotransmitter phenotype in midbrain dopamine neurons. Conversely, decreased nurr1 expression is associated with a number of dopamine-related CNS disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and drug addiction. In order to better understand the nature of nurr1-responsive genes and their potential roles in dopamine neuron differentiation and survival, we used a neural cellular background in which to generate a number of stable clonal lines with graded nurr1 gene expression that approximated that seen in DA cell-rich human substantia nigra. Gene expression profiling data from these nurr1-expressing clonal lines were validated by quantitative RT-PCR and subjected to bioinformatic analyses. The present study identified a large number of nurr1-responsive genes and demonstrated the potential importance of concentration-dependent nurr1 effects in the differential regulation of distinct nurr1 target genes and biological pathways. These data support the promise of nurr1-based CNS therapeutics for the neuroprotection and/or functional restoration of DA neurons.
Project description:The transcription factor nurr1 plays a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of neurotransmitter phenotype in midbrain dopamine neurons. Conversely, decreased nurr1 expression is associated with a number of dopamine-related CNS disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and drug addiction. In order to better understand the nature of nurr1-responsive genes and their potential roles in dopamine neuron differentiation and survival, we used a neural cellular background in which to generate a number of stable clonal lines with graded nurr1 gene expression that approximated that seen in DA cell-rich human substantia nigra. Gene expression profiling data from these nurr1-expressing clonal lines were validated by quantitative RT-PCR and subjected to bioinformatic analyses. The present study identified a large number of nurr1-responsive genes and demonstrated the potential importance of concentration-dependent nurr1 effects in the differential regulation of distinct nurr1 target genes and biological pathways. These data support the promise of nurr1-based CNS therapeutics for the neuroprotection and/or functional restoration of DA neurons. Total RNA obtained from nurr1-overexpressing SKNAS neuroblastoma clonal cell lines (SKNAS_E & SKNAS_G) compared to empty vector transfected control (SKNAS_C)
Project description:Skeletal muscle plays a central role in the control of metabolism and exercise tolerance. Analysis of muscle enhancers activated after exercise in mice revealed the orphan nuclear receptor NURR1/NR4A2 as a prominent component of exercise-responsive enhancers. We show that exercise enhances the expression of NURR1 and transgenic overexpression of NURR1 in skeletal muscle confers an endurance phenotype in mice. NURR1 expression in skeletal muscle is also sufficient to prevent hyperglycemia and hepatic steatosis by enhancing muscle glucose uptake and storage as glycogen. Furthermore, treatment of obese mice with putative NURR1 agonists increases energy expenditure, improves glucose tolerance, and confers a lean phenotype, mimicking the effects of exercise. These findings identify a key role for NURR1 in governance of skeletal muscle glucose metabolism and reveal a transcriptional link between exercise and metabolism. Our findings also identify NURR1 agonists as possible exercise mimetics with the potential to ameliorate obesity and other metabolic abnormalities.
Project description:Skeletal muscle plays a central role in the control of metabolism and exercise tolerance. Analysis of muscle enhancers activated after exercise in mice revealed the orphan nuclear receptor NURR1/NR4A2 as a prominent component of exercise-responsive enhancers. We show that exercise enhances the expression of NURR1 and transgenic overexpression of NURR1 in skeletal muscle confers an endurance phenotype in mice. NURR1 expression in skeletal muscle is also sufficient to prevent hyperglycemia and hepatic steatosis by enhancing muscle glucose uptake and storage as glycogen. Furthermore, treatment of obese mice with putative NURR1 agonists increases energy expenditure, improves glucose tolerance, and confers a lean phenotype, mimicking the effects of exercise. These findings identify a key role for NURR1 in governance of skeletal muscle glucose metabolism and reveal a transcriptional link between exercise and metabolism. Our findings also identify NURR1 agonists as possible exercise mimetics with the potential to ameliorate obesity and other metabolic abnormalities.
Project description:The orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 has been shown to be critical for the development of ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Consequently, the development of ES cells overexpressing Nurr1 has raised hope for the development of cell replacement therapies for Parkinson's Disease to replace degenerated dopaminergic neurons. However, the molecular consequences of Nurr1 on gene expression in these cells remain unknown. To address this, stable, clonal, c17.2 neural stem cell lines were established that overexpressed the orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 (clone 42 & clone 48) or parental control cell line (puroB & puroD, respectively). Keywords: genetic modification
Project description:Analysis of dopaminergic neuronal gene expression changes by Nurr1 and/or Foxa2 overexpression. Result provides that Foxa2 potentiates Nurr1-induced DA neuronal phenotype gene expression.