Project description:The goal of the study was to determine the gene expression of microglia prior to the onset of remyelination (3 days post lysolecithin injection) and pro-regenerative microglia at the onset of remyelination (10 days post remyelination).
Project description:Mouse cuprizone (CPZ ) model of experimental de- and remyelination was applied to mimic demyelination pathology of multiple sclerosis. In order to identify differentially expressed microRNAs involved in de- and remyelination, the affected areas of corpus callosum were isolated from mice exposed to CPZ and conducted an Agilent microarray analysis. To induce demyelination, CPZ was administrated for four weeks. Spontaneous remyelination occurs as mice returned to the regular diet after four weeks feeding with CPZ (DEM_4w). Remyelination was examined at two time points: acute remyelination induced by four weeks CPZ feeding followed by two days of regular diet (two days remyelination: REM_2d), and full remyelination induced by four weeks CPZ feeding followed by two weeks of regular diet (two weeks remyelination: REM_2w). Control mice (C) were kept on a normal diet. The following groups representing de- and remyelinisation pathology in corpus callosum of CPZ-treated mice were compared: Demyelination: 4weeks CPZ: DEM_4w; Acute remyelination: 4 weeks CPZ +2 days UNTREATED: REM_2d; Full remyelination: 4 weeks CPZ +2 weeks UNTREATED: REM_2w; and UNTREATED control (C). The experiments were performed using 2-4 animals per groups.
Project description:Remyelination failure contributes to axonal dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders. But whether astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell type in demyelinated lesions, support or impede remyelination is controversial. Following focal demyelinated lesions of the mouse corpus callosum induced with the myelin toxin lysolecithin, we used TRAP (translational ribosome affinity purification) sequencing to isolate and sequence ribosome-associated mRNAs which are being actively translated in astrocytes, and studied how the responses and molecular mechanisms in astrocytes are linked to remyelination.
Project description:Mouse cuprizone (CPZ ) model of experimental de- and remyelination was applied to mimic demyelination pathology of multiple sclerosis. The aim of the study was to profile whole genome expression to identify differentially expressed genes during the demyelinisation and after discontinuation of cuprizon treatment, during rapid remyelinisation in affected areas of mouse corpus callosum. Control mice were kept on a normal diet. The following groups representing de- and remyelinisation pathology in corpus callosum of CPZ-treated mice were compared: Partial demyelination: 2weeks CPZ (dem_2w); Complete demyelination: 4weeks CPZ (dem_4w); Remyelination: 4weeks CPZ + UNTREATED (rem); and UNTREATED control (C). The experiments were performed using 3-4 animals per groups.
Project description:Formation of cortical connections requires the precise coordination of several discrete stages. This is particularly significant with regard to the corpus callosum, the largest white matter structure bridging both cerebral hemispheres, whose development undergoes several dynamic stages including the crossing of axon projections, the elimination of exuberant projections, and the myelination of established tracts. To comprehensively characterize the molecular events in this dynamic process, we set to determine the distinct temporal expression of proteins regulating the formation of the corpus callosum and their respective developmental functions. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic profiling was performed on early postnatal mouse corpus callosi, for which limited evidence has been obtained previously, using stable isotope of labeled amino acids in mammals (SILAM). The analyzed corpus callosi had distinct proteomic profiles depending on age, indicating rapid progression of specific molecular events during this period. The proteomic expression profiles were then segregated into five separate protein clusters, each with distinct trajectories relevant to their intended developmental functions. Our analysis both confirms many previously-identified proteins in aspects of corpus callosum development, and identifies new candidates in understudied areas of development including callosal axon refinement. We present a valuable resource for identifying new proteins integral to corpus callosum development that will provide new insights into the development and diseases afflicting this structure.
Project description:Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), have two distinct phenotypes in the developing brain: amoeboid form, known to be amoeboid microglial cells (AMC) and ramified form, known to be ramified microglial cells (RMC) alongside several intermediate forms. The AMC are characterized by being proliferative, phagocytic and migratory whereas the RMC are quiescent and exhibit a slow turnover rate. The AMC transform into RMC with advancing age, and this transformation is indicative of the gradual shift in the microglial functions. Both AMC and RMC respond to CNS inflammation, and they become hypertrophic when they are activated by trauma, infection or neurodegenerative stimuli. The molecular mechanisms and functional significance of morphological transformation of microglia during normal development and in disease conditions is not clear. It is hypothesized that AMC and RMC are functionally regulated by a specific set of genes encoding various signaling molecules and transcription factors. To address this, we carried out cDNA microarray analysis using lectin-labeled AMC and RMC isolated from frozen tissue sections of the corpus callosum of 5-day and 4-week old rat brain respectively, by laser capture microdissection (LCM). The global gene expression profiles of both microglial phenotypes were compared and the differentially expressed genes in AMC and RMC were clustered based on their functional annotations. This genome wide comparative analysis helps in identifying genes that are specific to AMC and RMC. The novel and specific molecules identified in both microglial phenotypes can be targeted for therapeutic purposes in developing and adult brain diseases. We used microarrays to identify the genes specific to amoeboid and ramified microglia. RNA was isolated from the laser-captured amoeboid and ramified microglia from the corpus callosum of 5-day and 4-week old rat brain. The RNA was hybridised onto Affymetrix Rat 230 2.0 array.
Project description:To determine expression profiles of cytokines and growth factor profiles in the subventricular zone (SVZ) after demyelination we performed gene array analysis. In SVZ after 4 days post lesin (dpl) LPC-injected tissue, demonstrated regulation of BMP pathway elements, including increased chordin, noggin, and ChorR, and decreased BMP4, compared to NaCl-injected tissue. GEArrayTM expression array systems (cat#OMM031 SuperArray, Bethesda, MD) consisted of spotted cDNA fragments encoding 113 mouse genes for neurotrophic signaling molecules involved in neuronal growth and differentiation, as well as regeneration and survival. Control sequences (PUC18, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), peptidylpropyl isomerase A (Ppia), and ?-actin) were also included. These microarrays were employed to compare SVZ gene expression 4 days after NaCl or LPC injection in corpus callosum. Total RNA was isolated by Trizol (Invitrogen) and processed for microarray hybridization following the manufacturer’s instructions. Arrays were visualized by autoradiography, and hybridization signals were scanned and analyzed for density in GEArray Expression Analysis Suite 2.0. The normalized value for each gene was calculated by dividing the value of each gene by the average value of the housekeeping genes GAPDH, Ppia, and ?-actin.
Project description:We performed RNA-Seq for the corpus callosum sampled from 12 individuals. The samples were dissected from the frozen postmortem brain. The 12 individuals were matched by their age, sex and ethnicity for the postmortem brain samples, but differed in their disease status with half of the subjects were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.