The Ets transcription factor Fev is specifically expressed in the human central serotonergic neurons.
In the mouse and the rat brain, the Ets transcription factor pet-1 is exclusively expressed in the central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptaminergic: 5-HT) system. In pet-1 null mice, the defect of this factor induces early disruption of the 5-HT function, resulting in an increase in anxiety and aggression; thus indicating its pivotal role in this system. Here, we studied the expression of fev, the homologue of pet-1, in the human brain. We showed that this transcription factor is exclusively expressed in the midline part of the human brainstem containing raphe nuclei, which also specifically expressed 5-HT transporter (sert) and tryptophan hydroxylase (tph), two markers of the 5-HT neurotransmitter system. This clearly suggests that fev is expressed in human serotonergic neurons. While the deficiency of the central serotonergic signaling is a major factor involved in the development of some psychiatric disorders, Fev could be a good diagnosis marker as well as a good target for pharmacological treatments of these patients.
Maurer
Philippe
P
Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire - Faculté de Médecine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 614, 808 route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Rorive
Sandrine
S
de Kerchove d'Exaerde
Alban
A
Schiffmann
Serge N
SN
Salmon
Isabelle
I
de Launoit
Yvan
Y
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C474280:FEV protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493231:Slc6a4 protein, mouse; C493232:Slc6a4 protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012701:Serotonin; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase