The foxa2 gene controls the birth and spontaneous degeneration of dopamine neurons in old age.
Parkinson disease affects more than 1% of the population over 60 y old. The dominant models for Parkinson disease are based on the use of chemical toxins to kill dopamine neurons, but do not address the risk factors that normally increase with age. Forkhead transcription factors are critical regulators of survival and longevity. The forkhead transcription factor, foxa2, is specifically expressed in adult dopamine neurons and their precursors in the medial floor plate. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments show this gene, foxa2, is required to generate dopamine neurons during fetal development and from embryonic stem cells. Mice carrying only one copy of the foxa2 gene show abnormalities in motor behavior in old age and an associated progressive loss of dopamine neurons. Manipulating forkhead function may regulate both the birth of dopamine neurons and their spontaneous death, two major goals of regenerative medicine.
Kittappa
Raja
R
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
Chang
Wendy W
WW
Awatramani
Rajeshwar B
RB
McKay
Ronald D G
RD
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C496503:Foxa2 protein, mouse; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C465570:Shh protein, mouse; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; D004298:Dopamine