Analysis of TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 expression in the hydrocephalic H-Tx rat brain.
BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an important cytokine with modulatory actions in the nervous system. The development of hydrocephalus in mouse models resulting from the overexpression of TGF-beta1 has previously been described, but the mechanism by which this occurs remains obscure.


METHODS
In order to evaluate the role of TGF-beta in hydrocephalus, we used SYBR Green I-based real-time quantitative RT-PCR method and Western blot analysis to analyze the TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 mRNA and protein expressions in the cerebral cortex of the H-Tx rat, a model of congenital hydrocephalus.


RESULTS
The hydrocephalic H-Tx rat expressed significantly higher TGF-beta3 levels than their normal siblings (p<0.01) at 7 and 14 days of age. This difference became insignificant when analyzed at 21 days of age. On the other hand, such a difference has not been observed in the TGF-beta2 levels in the hydrocephalic H-Tx rat.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 expression may be modulated differently in the hydrocephalus, and TGF-beta3 may contribute to the development of hydrocephalus in this rat model.
Li
Xianfeng
X
Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Hongo 2-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
Miyajima
Masakazu
M
Arai
Hajime
H
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D003959:Diamines; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D011804:Quinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003959:Diamines; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509045:Tgfb3 protein, mouse; C509046:Tgfb3 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; C098022:SYBR Green I