| 1. |
- Boije, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Alternative Splicing of the Chromodomain Protein Morf4l1 Pre-mRNA Has Implications on Cell Differentiation in the Developing Chicken Retina
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Neuroscience. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0895-8696 .- 1559-1166. ; 51:2, s. 615-628
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The proliferation, cell cycle exit and differentiation of progenitor cells are controlled by several different factors. The chromodomain protein mortality factor 4-like 1 (Morf4l1) has been ascribed a role in both proliferation and differentiation. Little attention has been given to the existence of alternative splice variants of the Morf4l1 mRNA, which encode two Morf41l isoforms: a short isoform (S-Morf4l1) with an intact chromodomain and a long isoform (L-Morf4l1) with an insertion in or in the vicinity of the chromodomain. The aim of this study was to investigate if this alternative splicing has a function during development. We analysed the temporal and spatial distribution of the two mRNAs and over-expressed both isoforms in the developing retina. The results showed that the S-Morf4l1 mRNA is developmentally regulated. Over-expression of S-Morf4l1 using a retrovirus vector produced a clear phenotype with an increase of early-born neurons: retinal ganglion cells, horizontal cells and cone photoreceptor cells. Over-expression of L-Morf4l1 did not produce any distinguishable phenotype. The over-expression of S-Morf4l1 but not L-Morf4l1 also increased apoptosis in the infected regions. Our results suggest that the two Morf4l1 isoforms have different functions during retinogenesis and that Morf4l1 functions are fine-tuned by developmentally regulated alternative splicing. The data also suggest that Morf4l1 contributes to the regulation of cell genesis in the retina.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Boije, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Forkheadbox N4 (FoxN4) triggers context-dependent differentiation in the developing chick retina and neural tube
- 2013
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Ingår i: Differentiation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-4681 .- 1432-0436. ; 85:1-2, s. 11-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- FoxN4, a forkhead box transcription factor, is expressed in the chicken eye field and in retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) throughout development. FoxN4 labelling overlapped with that of Pax6 and Sox2, two crucial transcription factors for RPCs. Later, during neurogenesis in the retina, some cells were intensely and transiently labelled for FoxN4. These cells co-labelled for Lim1, a transcription factor expressed in early-born horizontal cells. The result suggests that high levels of FoxN4 combined with expression of Lim1 define a population of RPCs committed to the horizontal cell fate prior to their last apical mitosis. As these prospective horizontal cells develop, their FoxN4 expression is down-regulated. Previous results suggested that FoxN4 is important for the generation of horizontal and amacrine cells but that it is not sufficient for the generation of horizontal cells (Li et al., 2004). We found that over-expression of FoxN4 in embryonic day 3 chicken retina could activate horizontal cell markers Prox1 and Lim1, and that it generated numerous and ectopically located horizontal cells of both main subtypes. However, genes expressed in photoreceptors, amacrine and ganglion cells were also activated, indicating that FoxN4 triggered the expression of several differentiation factors. This effect was not exclusive for the retina but was also seen when FoxN4 was over-expressed in the mesencephalic neural tube. Combining the results from over-expression and wild-type expression data we suggest a model where a low level of FoxN4 is maintained in RPCs and that increased levels during a restricted period trigger neurogenesis and commitment of RPCs to the horizontal cell fate.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Boije, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Horizontal cell progenitors arrest in G2-phase and undergo terminal mitosis on the vitreal side of the chick retina
- 2009
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Ingår i: Developmental Biology. - : Elsevier. - 0012-1606 .- 1095-564X. ; 330:1, s. 105-113
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have addressed the question when horizontal cells in the chick retina are generated and undergo their terminal mitosis. Horizontal cell progenitors replicate their DNA early and migrate bi-directionally to the horizontal cell layer. It was hypothesized that the cells undergo mitosis directly after replication and migrate as post-mitotic transition cells before differentiating to horizontal cells. However, our results show that cells expressing markers for the axon-bearing and the axon-less subtypes of horizontal cells undergo terminal mitosis while residing on the vitreal side of the retina. By combining horizontal cell transcription factors Lim1, Isl1 and Prox1 labeling with phospho-histone H3, a marker for mitosis, we demonstrate that all or a clear majority of vitreal mitoses are undertaken by the horizontal cell committed progenitors. The pattern of cells that incorporated the thymidine analogue EdU implied that the progenitors replicated their genome while migrating towards the vitreal side. Upon arrival to the vitreal retina they become arrested for about two days prior to mitosis. Hence, cells expressing horizontal cell markers are arrested in G2-phase on the vitreal side of the retina. These results support the existence of committed progenitors that give rise to horizontal cells and that those cells become arrested in G2-phase before undergoing terminal mitosis on the vitreal side of the retina followed by migration to the horizontal cell layer. The results also indicate that the regulation of the transition from G2-phase to mitosis is important for the development of these committed progenitor cells.
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| 6. |
- Boije, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Horizontal Cells, the Odd Ones Out in the Retina, Give Insights into Development and Disease
- 2016
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1662-5129. ; 10
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thorough investigation of a neuronal population can help reveal key aspects regarding the nervous system and its development. The retinal horizontal cells have several extraordinary features making them particularly interesting for addressing questions regarding fate assignment and subtype specification. In this review we discuss and summarize data concerning the formation and diversity of horizontal cells, how morphology is correlated to molecular markers, and how fate assignment separates the horizontal lineage from the lineages of other retinal cell types. We discuss the novel and unique features of the final cell cycle of horizontal cell progenitors and how they may relate to retinoblastoma carcinogenesis.
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| 7. |
- Boije, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Pax2 Is Expressed in a Subpopulation of Muller Cells in the Central Chick Retina
- 2010
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Ingår i: Developmental Dynamics. - : Wiley. - 1058-8388 .- 1097-0177. ; 239:6, s. 1858-1866
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Muller cells in the chick retina are generally thought to be a homogeneous population. We show that the transcription factor Pax2 is expressed by Muller cells in the central chick retina and its expression was first observed at stage 32 (embryonic day [E] 7.5). Birth-dating indicated that the majority of Pax2-positive Muller cells are generated between stage 29 and 33 (E5.5-E8). At stage 42 (E16), several Muller cell markers, such as Sox2 and 2M6, had reached the peripheral retina, while the Pax2 labeling extended approximately half-way. A similar pattern was maintained in the 6-month-old chicken. Neither the Pax2-positive nor the Pax2-negative Muller cells could be specifically associated to proliferative responses in the retina induced by growth factors or N-methyl-D-aspartate. Pax2 was not detected in Muller cells in mouse, rat, guinea-pig, rabbit, or pig retinas; but the zebrafish retina displayed a similar pattern of central Pax2-expressing Muller cells.
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| 8. |
- Boije, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Temporal and spatial expression of transcription factors FoxN4, Ptf1a, Prox1, Isl1 and Lim1 mRNA in the developing chick retina
- 2008
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Ingår i: Gene Expression Patterns. - : Elsevier BV. - 1567-133X .- 1872-7298. ; 8:2, s. 117-123
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transcription factors are pivotal in regulating cell fate and development. We analyzed five transcription factors - FoxN4, Ptf1a, Prox1, Isl1 and Lim1 - with putative functions in the formation of early-generated retinal interneurons. A full-length chicken FoxN4 cDNA was characterized and in situ as well as RT-PCR showed that FoxN4 expression commenced already in the stage 12-14 optic vesicles. Ptf1a, Prox1, Isl1 and Lim1 expression appeared later by stage 20-24, concomitant with the first post-mitotic ganglion-, amacrine- and horizontal cells. The FoxN4 and Ptf1a expression was transient with peak levels by stage 32-35. Expression disappeared as the retinal progenitor cells differentiated. Prox1, Isl1 and Lim1 expression remained in several differentiated cells including the horizontal cells. The order of expression supports a scheme where Ptf1a and Prox1 is downstream of FoxN4 and that FoxN4 and Ptf1a have transient roles during fate specification while Prox1, Isl1 and Lim1 have roles that are important for the generation of the neuronal subtypes.
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| 9. |
- Edqvist, Per-Henrik D, et al.
(författare)
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Axon-bearing and axon-less horizontal cell subtypes are generated consecutively during chick retinal development from progenitors that are sensitive to follistatin
- 2008
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Ingår i: BMC Developmental Biology. - 1471-213X. ; 8, s. 46-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Horizontal cells are retinal interneurons that modulate the output from photoreceptors. A rich literature on the morphological classification and functional properties of HCs in different animals exists, however, the understanding of the events underlying their development is still limited. In most vertebrates including chicken, two main horizontal cell (HC) subtypes are identified based on the presence or absence of an axon.RESULTS:In this work we have molecularly characterized three HC subtypes based on Lim1, Isl1, GABA and TrkA, a classification that is consistent with three chick HC subtypes previously defined by morphology. The axon-bearing and axon-less HC subpopulations molecularly defined by Lim1 and Isl1, are born consecutively on embryonic day (E) 3-4 and E4-5, respectively, and exhibit temporally distinguishable periods of migration. Their relative numbers are not adjusted by apoptosis. A sharp decrease of high endogenous levels of the activin-inhibitor follistatin at E3 coincides with the appearance of the Lim1 positive cells. Extending the follistatin exposure of the HC retinal progenitor cells by injection of follistatin at E3 increased the number of both Lim1- and Isl1 positive HCs when analysed at E9.CONCLUSION:The results imply that the axon-bearing and axon-less HC subgroups are defined early and are generated consecutively from a retinal progenitor cell population that is sensitive to the inhibitory action of follistatin. The results are consistent with a model wherein added follistatin causes HC-generating progenitors to proliferate beyond the normal period of HC generation, thus producing extra HCs of both types that migrate to the HC layer.
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| 10. |
- Moberg, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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De unga gör helt rätt när de stämmer staten
- 2022
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Ingår i: Aftonbladet. - 1103-9000.
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- 1 620 forskare och lärare i forskarvärlden: Vi ställer oss bakom Auroras klimatkrav
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