title: Expression of GDNF and GDNFR-alpha mRNAs in muscles of patients with motor neuron diseases.
abstract: The mRNA expression levels of GDNF, GDNFR-alpha and RET were examined in the muscles of amyotrophic lateral screlosis (ALS) and X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). GDNF mRNA levels were significantly elevated to variable extent in the diseased muscles compared to control muscles, although they were not specific to the type of the diseases. The diseased muscles also have a different expression pattern of GDNF mRNA isoforms from controls. GDNF mRNA expression, however, tended to reduce in advanced muscle pathology. On the other hand, GDNFR-alpha mRNA levels were not changed significantly on expression levels in the diseased muscles. In situ hybridization study revealed that GDNF and GDNFR-alpha mRNAs were localized in subsarcolemmal space of muscle cells. RET mRNA was not detected in control nor diseased muscles. These results suggest that the elevated muscle GDNF acts as a trophic signal for motor neurons of motor neuron diseases, implying a possible therapeutic implication of GDNF to this type of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitsuma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inukai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitsuma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sobue
mesh_terms: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C495039:GDNF protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila