The POU domain transcription factor Brn-3a protects cortical neurons from apoptosis.
We have demonstrated previously that exogenously expressed Brn-3a is capable of protecting neurons of the peripheral nervous system against apoptosis. In these previous studies Brn-3a showed a degree of neuronal sub-type specificity, in that while it could promote survival in NGF-dependent sensory neurons, no effect was observed in NGF-dependent neurons of the sympathetic nervous system. In this report, we show that Brn-3a delivered using a herpes simplex virus is capable of protecting cultures of rat cerebrocortical neurons of the central nervous system against two types of cell death stimuli, including glutamate neurotoxicity. Hence the protective effect of Brn-3a is not confined to neurons of the peripheral nervous system but can also occur in neurons of the CNS.
Smith
M D
MD
Medical Molecular Biology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
Ensor
E A
EA
Kinloch
R A
RA
Latchman
D S
DS
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D019311:Staurosporine; D002166:Camptothecin