RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Netrin-1 Is a Chemorepellent for Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells in the Embryonic Spinal Cord
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 3735
OP 3744
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-09-03735.2003
VO 23
IS 9
A1 Andrew A. Jarjour
A1 Colleen Manitt
A1 Simon W. Moore
A1 Katherine M. Thompson
A1 Sung-Joo Yuh
A1 Timothy E. Kennedy
YR 2003
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/23/9/3735.abstract
AB Netrin-1, secreted by floor plate cells, orients axon extension in relation to the ventral midline of the embryonic spinal cord. Oligodendrocyte precursor (OP) cells are born close to the ventral midline and migrate away from the floor plate. Here we show that OP cells, identified by expression of the platelet-derived growth factor α receptor, express the netrin receptors dcc andunc5h1 but do not express netrin-1. Using a microchemotaxis assay, we demonstrate that migrating OPs are repelled by a gradient of netrin-1 in vitro. Furthermore, application of netrin-1 to OPs in vitro triggers retraction of OP processes. In the absence of netrin-1 or Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) function in vivo, fewer OP cells migrate from the ventral to the dorsal embryonic spinal cord, consistent with netrin-1 acting as a repellent. In addition to their role regulating cell movement, DCC and UNC-5 homologs have been suggested to function as proapoptotic dependence receptors, triggering cell death in the absence of netrin-1. In contrast, we report no evidence of increased OP cell death in vivo or in vitro in the absence of either netrin-1 or DCC. These findings indicate that netrin-1 is a repellent cue for migrating OPs in the embryonic spinal cord.