title: Interferon-gamma promotes differentiation of neural progenitor cells via the JNK pathway.
abstract: It has been reported that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) facilitates differentiation of PC-12 cells and murine adult neural stem cells. Here we show that IFN-gamma promotes the differentiation of C17.2 neural progenitor cells (NPC) into a neuronal phenotype characterized by neurite outgrowth and the expression of the neuronal marker protein beta-III tubulin. IFN-gamma induced an increase in the activity c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) without affecting activities of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs 1 and 2). An inhibitor of JNK blocked the ability of IFN-gamma to promote differentiation of NPC into neurons, whereas an inhibitor of ERKs 1 and 2 did not. Our findings show that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IFN-gamma has the potential to stimulate neurogenesis, suggesting roles for this cytokine in development and repair of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Longevity Life Science and Technology Institutes, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: So Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Gen
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Keunho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Ra
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mattson
authors.forename: Jaewon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases