title: Prolonged glial expression of Sox4 in the CNS leads to architectural cerebellar defects and ataxia.
abstract: Sox proteins of group C are strongly expressed in the developing nervous system and have been associated with maturation of neurons and glia. Here, we overexpressed the group C protein Sox4 in transgenic mice under the control of the human GFAP promoter. Transgene expression was detected in radial glia and astrocytes throughout the CNS. The transgenic mice were ataxic and exhibited hydrocephaly as well as cerebellar malformations. In the cerebellum, fissures were not formed and neuronal layering was dramatically disturbed. Nevertheless, all neuronal cell types of the cerebellum were present as well as cells with characteristics of early radial glia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. However, radial glia failed to migrate into the position normally taken by Bergmann glia and did not extend radial fibers toward the pial surface. The cerebellar malformations can therefore be explained by the absence of functional Bergmann glia. We conclude that Sox4 expression counteracts differentiation of radial glia and has to be downregulated before full maturation can occur.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Universität Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoser
authors.forename: Stephan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Baader
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bösl
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ihmer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors; C489990:Sox4 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators