QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Boucher, S. E. M. Articles by Skoff, R. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Boucher, S. E. M. Articles by Skoff, R. P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

The Journal of Neuroscience, March 1, 2002, 22(5):1772-1783

Proteolipid Protein Gene Modulates Viability and Phenotype of Neurons

Shayne E. M. Boucher¹, Maria A. Cypher², Leon R. Carlock², and Robert P. Skoff^{1, 2}

¹ Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and ² Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201

Overexpression or lack of expression of proteolipid protein (PLP) gene by oligodendrocytes causes axonal pathology. It is unclear whether dysfunction of the PLP gene mediates its effects directly on neurons or indirectly by abnormal formation of myelin sheaths. We performed experiments using cocultures and conditioned media (CM) to test the direct effect of PLP gene expression on neurons. Non-glial cell lines were stably transfected with PLP or DM20 (an alternate splice variant of PLP) cDNAs. Immunocytochemistry and enhanced green fluorescent protein expression showed that translated products were synthesized and inserted into the plasma membrane in proper conformation. The number of surviving dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons was significantly less than controls when cocultured for 5 d with PLP-expressing cells. The number of degenerating neurons increased in a dose-dependent manner corresponding to increasing numbers of PLP-expressing cells. However, the number of surviving DRG neurons cocultured with DM20-expressing cells was comparable to that of controls, indicating that PLP-specific products contributed to decreased neuron survival. When DRG neurons were cultured with CM from PLP- or DM20-expressing cells, significantly fewer neurons survived with CM of PLP- but not DM20-expressing cells. This suggests that secreted factors from PLP-expressing cells contribute to neuronal death. Increased neuronal death found with PLP-expressing cells cannot be attributed to density-dependent artifacts, because in each experiment the density of different cell lines was similar. This effect of CM may be mediated by a negative pH shift elicited from PLP but not DM20 expression. These results indicate that PLP gene products directly modulate neuron viability.

Key words: proteolipid protein; DM20; dorsal root ganglion; tubulin; myelin; cell death; oligodendroglia; glia; neuron

---

Copyright © 2002 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/02/2251772-12$05.00/0

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. P. Lisak Neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis: Defining the problem Neurology, May 29, 2007; 68(22_suppl_3): S5 - S12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help