title: Intermediate filament steady-state mRNA levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: We have examined the steady-state levels of intermediate filament mRNA in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using the RNAse protection assay (NFL, NFM, NFH; corrected against GAPDH) or by PCR (peripherin, alpha-internexin, nestin, and vimentin; corrected against beta-actin). Significant elevations of NFL and peripherin mRNA levels were observed within the ALS cervical and lumbar spinal cord, with all other IF mRNA levels being comparable between control and ALS cases. These findings suggest that disturbances in both NFL and peripherin expression, independently known to contribute to the generation of motor neuron dysfunction in transgenic mice, are evident in ALS.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, London, Ont., Canada. mstrong@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leystra-Lantz
authors.forename: Wei-Wen
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D023282:Nuclease Protection Assays; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger