Glial cell fate specification modulated by the bHLH gene Hes5 in mouse retina.
Neurons and glial cells differentiate from common precursors. Whereas the gene glial cells missing (gcm) determines the glial fate in Drosophila, current data about the expression patterns suggest that, in mammals, gcm homologues are unlikely to regulate gliogenesis. Here, we found that, in mouse retina, the bHLH gene Hes5 was specifically expressed by differentiating Müller glial cells and that misexpression of Hes5 with recombinant retrovirus significantly increased the population of glial cells at the expense of neurons. Conversely, Hes5-deficient retina showed 30-40% decrease of Müller glial cell number without affecting cell survival. These results indicate that Hes5 modulates glial cell fate specification in mouse retina.
Hojo
M
M
Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University and Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Ohtsuka
T
T
Hashimoto
N
N
Gradwohl
G
G
Guillemot
F
F
Kageyama
R
R
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors