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The Journal of Neuroscience, December 15, 2002, 22(24):10710-10719
Telomerase Mediates the Cell Survival-Promoting Actions of
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Secreted Amyloid Precursor
Protein in Developing Hippocampal Neurons
Weiming
Fu,
Chengbiao
Lu, and
Mark P.
Mattson
Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging
Gerontology Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
Telomerase, a reverse transcriptase that maintains chromosome ends
(telomeres) during successive cell divisions in mitotic cells is
present in neuroblasts and early postmitotic embryonic neurons but is
absent from adult neurons. The signals that control telomerase levels
during development are unknown, as are the functions of telomerase in
developing neurons. We now report that telomerase activity and levels
of its catalytic subunit telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)
are increased in embryonic hippocampal neurons by brain-derived
neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a secreted form of -amyloid precursor
protein (sAPP). BDNF and sAPP promote the survival of the embryonic
neurons, and these trophic effects are blocked when TERT production is
suppressed using antisense technology. Telomerase is required for the
long-term survival of early postmitotic neurons during a time window of
~1 week in culture; telomerase is then downregulated and is not
required for BDNF and sAPP survival signaling in mature neurons. The
increase in telomerase activity and trophic effects of BDNF and sAPP
are mediated by phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and p42/p44 MAP kinases.
Our findings demonstrate a requirement for telomerase in the cell
survival-promoting actions of BDNF and sAPP in early
postmitotic hippocampal neurons, suggesting a previously unknown role
for telomerase in mediating the biological actions of neurotrophic
factors during brain development.
Key words:
Akt; apoptosis; insulin-like growth factor; MAP kinase; neurogenesis; TERT
Copyright © 2002 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/02/222410710-10$05.00/0
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