| 1. |
- Aalto, K, et al.
(författare)
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Nerve growth factor in serum of children with systemic lupus erythematosus is correlated with disease activity
- 2002
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Ingår i: Cytokine. - : ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 1043-4666 .- 1096-0023. ; 20:3, s. 136-139
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor, which is expressed both in the nervous system and in peripheral organs. NGF is also present in mast cells, and in B- and T-lymphocytes, and may play a role in the immune cell development and differentiation. Various cytokines have been shown to affect NGF expression, and NGF is elevated in inflammation and in some autoimmune diseases. Here we have studied NGF concentrations in serum of pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We have further correlated the levels of NGF to the inflammatory state of the disease. The mean value of serum NGF in SLE patients was significantly increased compared with controls (3346 vs 627 pg/ml). There was a correlation between the activity of SLE and the levels of NGF. The results show that NGF is elevated in childhood SLE and that the levels are correlated with disease activity. The present results suggest that NGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE and may have a prognostic value in evaluating the course of the disease and in outlining the medication. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Brannvall, K, et al.
(författare)
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Cystatin-B is expressed by neural stem cells and by differentiated neurons and astrocytes
- 2003
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Ingår i: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications - BBRC. - : ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. - 0006-291X .- 1090-2104. ; 308:2, s. 369-374
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mutation in the gene encoding cystatin-B (CSTB) has been shown to cause progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Mice with a gene deletion of CSTB exhibit increased apoptosis of specific neurons but the physiological role of CSTB in brain cells is not fully understood. In the present study, we have examined the expression of CSTB in neural stem cells (NSC) and in differentiating mature brain cells. The results show that CSTB is present in embryonic and adult NSC and in the neuroepithelium. CSTB was expressed by both neurons and glial cells differentiated from NSC and in hippocampal cultures. CSTB localized mainly to the nucleus in NSC and in neurons, whilst in astrocytes CSTB was also in the cytoplasm. Double labeling showed that CSTB was present in the lysosomes in glial cells. The results demonstrate a nuclear expression of CSTB in NSC and in neurons, suggesting novel function for this molecule. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Brannvall, K, et al.
(författare)
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Estrogen-receptor-dependent regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation
- 2002
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - Uppsala Univ, Ctr Biomed, Dept Neurosci, S-75123 Uppsala, Sweden. : ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 21:3, s. 512-520
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogen has profound effects on function and plasticity of the nervous system. Receptors for estrogen (ERs) are expressed by neurons in several areas of the brain. Here we demonstrate that embryonic and adult rat neural stem cells (NSC) express ERalpha and ERbeta, 17beta-Estradiol treatment decreased the proliferation of NSC stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), which was due to the upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor, p21(Cip1). The modulatory effect of 17beta-estradiol on EGF was more pronounced in adult NSC. However, 17beta-estradiol alone increased the proliferation of embryonic, but not adult, NSC. The effect of 17beta-estradiol was inhibited by the ER antagonist, ICI-182780, showing an involvement of ERs. 17beta-Estradiol also increased the ratio of neurons to glia cells in embryonic NSC, but not in adult NSC, suggesting an influence on neurogenesis during embryonic development. The data show that estrogen, via ER, affects the proliferation and differentiation of NSC cells, probably acting in conjunction with other factors governing NSC development.
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| 4. |
- Korhonen, L, et al.
(författare)
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Tumor suppressor gene BRCA-1 is expressed by embryonic and adult neural stem cells and involved in cell proliferation
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroscience Research. - : WILEY-BLACKWELL. - 0360-4012 .- 1097-4547. ; 71:6, s. 769-776
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BRCA-1 is a tumor suppressor gene that plays a role in DNA repair and cellular growth control. Here we show that BRCA-1 mRNA is expressed by embryonic rat brain and is localized to the neuroepithelium containing neuronal precursor cells. The expression of BRCA-1 decreases during rat brain development, but BRCA-1 is expressed postnatally by proliferating neuronal precursor cells in the developing cerebellum. Neural stem cells (NSC) prepared from embryonic rat brain and cultured in the presence of epidermal growth factor were positive for BRCA-1. Induction of NSC differentiation resulted in down-regulation of BRCA-1 expression as shown by RNA and protein analyses. In addition to embryonic cells, BRCA-1 is also present in NSC prepared from adult rat brain. In adult rats, BRCA1 was expressed by cells in the walls of brain ventricles and in choroid plexus. The results show that BRCA-1 is present in embryonic and adult rat NSC and that the expression is linked to NSC proliferation. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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