title: Expression of decorin mRNA in the nervous system of rat.
abstract: A rat cDNA clone (pCD67) isolated from a cDNA library of regenerating sciatic nerve by differential hybridization screening revealed 75% homology on the nucleic acid level and 81% homology (including conservative amino acid changes) to the deduced amino acid sequence of the core protein of human dermatan/chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan decorin (PGII, PG40, PG-S2). Two transcripts of 1.3 and 1.75 KB very similar in size to the two decorin mRNA species previously identified in connective tissue were detected by Northern blotting in both normal and injured sciatic nerve and in the mature and embryonic rat brain. The steady-state level of the decorin 1.3 KB mRNA was very much higher in peripheral nerve than in the central nervous system or in other non-neural tissues (skeletal muscle, heart, colon, kidney). In situ hybridization experiments indicated that decorin mRNA is expressed by Schwann cells and vascular cells in peripheral nerve. In the spinal cord the ventral horn motor neurons and other neurons in gray matter showed specific hybridization signals. Furthermore, in situ hybridization indicated decorin expression in Purkinje neurons and cells of the molecular layer in cerebellum, and in neurons of the primary olfactory cortex and brainstem (pons). Our data clearly demonstrate decorin mRNA expression in distinct neural cell populations, suggesting yet unknown functions of this proteoglycan in the peripheral and central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Hanemann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spreyer
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015342:DNA Probes; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: C546878:DCN protein, human; D015342:DNA Probes; C546880:Dcn protein, rat; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA