title: N-cadherin mediates interaction between precursor cells in the subventricular zone and regulates further differentiation.
abstract: Neurogenesis and cell differentiation in the brain continues throughout life. In the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream, precursor cells contact each other. Cell-cell interactions mediated via adhesion molecules are no doubt involved in establishing and maintaining the neurogenic ability of these cells. Here, we demonstrate that N-cadherin plays important roles in forming cell clusters and in regulating cell differentiation. N-cadherin is abundantly expressed in chain migrating cells in the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream but is down-regulated after cells exit these regions. We also show that neurosphere formation is inhibited via suppression of N-cadherin function and that N-cadherin expression is decreased after induction of neurosphere differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that functional blockade of N-cadherin can enhance glial cell differentiation in explant cultures of precursors from the subventricular zone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagita
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Colman
authors.forename: Weisong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C489083:Cdh2 protein, mouse