Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Progranulin (PGRN) encoded by the <it>GRN </it>gene, is a secreted glycoprotein growth factor that has been implicated in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. PGRN haploinsufficiency caused by autosomal do...

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Main Authors: Bateman Andrew, Kay Denis G, Baranowski David C, Chitramuthu Babykumari P, Bennett Hugh PJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-10-01
Series:Molecular Neurodegeneration
Online Access:http://www.molecularneurodegeneration.com/content/5/1/41
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author Bateman Andrew
Kay Denis G
Baranowski David C
Chitramuthu Babykumari P
Bennett Hugh PJ
author_facet Bateman Andrew
Kay Denis G
Baranowski David C
Chitramuthu Babykumari P
Bennett Hugh PJ
author_sort Bateman Andrew
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Progranulin (PGRN) encoded by the <it>GRN </it>gene, is a secreted glycoprotein growth factor that has been implicated in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. PGRN haploinsufficiency caused by autosomal dominant mutations within the <it>GRN </it>gene leads to progressive neuronal atrophy in the form of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). This form of the disease is associated with neuronal inclusions that bear the ubiquitinated TAR DNA Binding Protein-43 (TDP-43) molecular signature (FTLD-U). The neurotrophic properties of PGRN <it>in vitro </it>have recently been reported but the role of PGRN in neurons is not well understood. Here we document the neuronal expression and functions of PGRN in spinal cord motoneuron (MN) maturation and branching <it>in vivo </it>using zebrafish, a well established model of vertebrate embryonic development.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whole-mount <it>in situ </it>hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses of zebrafish embryos revealed that zfPGRN-A is expressed within the peripheral and central nervous systems including the caudal primary (CaP) MNs within the spinal cord. Knockdown of zfPGRN-A mRNA translation mediated by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides disrupted normal CaP MN development resulting in both truncated MNs and inappropriate early branching. Ectopic over-expression of zfPGRN-A mRNA resulted in increased MN branching and rescued the truncation defects brought about by knockdown of zfPGRN-A expression. The ability of PGRN to interact with established MN developmental pathways was tested. PGRN over-expression was found to reverse the truncation defect resulting from knockdown of Survival of motor neuron 1 (smn1). This is involved in small ribonucleoprotein biogenesis RNA processing, mutations of which cause Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in humans. It did not reverse the MN defects caused by interfering with the neuronal guidance pathway by knockdown of expression of NRP-1, a semaphorin co-receptor.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Expression of PGRN within MNs and the observed phenotypes resulting from mRNA knockdown and over-expression are consistent with a role in the regulation of spinal cord MN development and branching. This study presents the first <it>in vivo </it>demonstration of the neurotrophic properties of PGRN and suggests possible future therapeutic applications in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-e9fc208784dc44509435df2c6a819b832022-12-22T03:24:56ZengBMCMolecular Neurodegeneration1750-13262010-10-01514110.1186/1750-1326-5-41Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1Bateman AndrewKay Denis GBaranowski David CChitramuthu Babykumari PBennett Hugh PJ<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Progranulin (PGRN) encoded by the <it>GRN </it>gene, is a secreted glycoprotein growth factor that has been implicated in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. PGRN haploinsufficiency caused by autosomal dominant mutations within the <it>GRN </it>gene leads to progressive neuronal atrophy in the form of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). This form of the disease is associated with neuronal inclusions that bear the ubiquitinated TAR DNA Binding Protein-43 (TDP-43) molecular signature (FTLD-U). The neurotrophic properties of PGRN <it>in vitro </it>have recently been reported but the role of PGRN in neurons is not well understood. Here we document the neuronal expression and functions of PGRN in spinal cord motoneuron (MN) maturation and branching <it>in vivo </it>using zebrafish, a well established model of vertebrate embryonic development.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whole-mount <it>in situ </it>hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses of zebrafish embryos revealed that zfPGRN-A is expressed within the peripheral and central nervous systems including the caudal primary (CaP) MNs within the spinal cord. Knockdown of zfPGRN-A mRNA translation mediated by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides disrupted normal CaP MN development resulting in both truncated MNs and inappropriate early branching. Ectopic over-expression of zfPGRN-A mRNA resulted in increased MN branching and rescued the truncation defects brought about by knockdown of zfPGRN-A expression. The ability of PGRN to interact with established MN developmental pathways was tested. PGRN over-expression was found to reverse the truncation defect resulting from knockdown of Survival of motor neuron 1 (smn1). This is involved in small ribonucleoprotein biogenesis RNA processing, mutations of which cause Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in humans. It did not reverse the MN defects caused by interfering with the neuronal guidance pathway by knockdown of expression of NRP-1, a semaphorin co-receptor.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Expression of PGRN within MNs and the observed phenotypes resulting from mRNA knockdown and over-expression are consistent with a role in the regulation of spinal cord MN development and branching. This study presents the first <it>in vivo </it>demonstration of the neurotrophic properties of PGRN and suggests possible future therapeutic applications in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.</p>http://www.molecularneurodegeneration.com/content/5/1/41
spellingShingle Bateman Andrew
Kay Denis G
Baranowski David C
Chitramuthu Babykumari P
Bennett Hugh PJ
Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1
Molecular Neurodegeneration
title Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1
title_full Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1
title_fullStr Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1
title_full_unstemmed Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1
title_short Progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development <it>in vivo </it>and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of Survival motor neuron 1
title_sort progranulin modulates zebrafish motoneuron development it in vivo it and rescues truncation defects associated with knockdown of survival motor neuron 1
url http://www.molecularneurodegeneration.com/content/5/1/41
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