title: Plexin-A4 is expressed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells and acts as a mediator of semaphorin signals.
abstract: Class 3 semaphorin acts as a guidance clue for both cell migration and nerve fiber projection. The signal of class 3 semaphorin travels via a receptor complex consisting of neuropilins and Plexin-A subfamily. Although it has been reported that class 3 semaphorin acts as a repellent for oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), which migrate actively during brain development, the expression of Plexin-A subfamily has not been reported in OPCs yet. Therefore, it is currently unclear how semaphorin signals can travel in OPCs. In the present study, the expression of Plexin-A4 (PlexA4) was first demonstrated in a newly established OPC line and OPCs in developing brain. In the OPC line, repulsion for process extension was caused by both Sema3A and Sema6A, and the effect of the semaphorins was diminished in cells expressing PlexA4 lacking the cytoplasmic domain. These results strongly suggest that PlexA4 expressed in OPCs acts as a mediator of semaphorin signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsumasa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomooka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039921:Neuropilins / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D039921:Neuropilins; C492110:Plxna4 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D039961:Semaphorins