title: BMP2 promotes differentiation of nitrergic and catecholaminergic enteric neurons through a Smad1-dependent pathway.
abstract: The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family is a class of transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) superfamily molecules that have been implicated in neuronal differentiation. We studied the effects of BMP2 and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on inducing differentiation of enteric neurons and the signal transduction pathways involved. Studies were performed using a novel murine fetal enteric neuronal cell line (IM-FEN) and primary enteric neurons. Enteric neurons were cultured in the presence of vehicle, GDNF (100 ng/ml), BMP2 (10 ng/ml), or both (GDNF + BMP2), and differentiation was assessed by neurite length, markers of neuronal differentiation (neurofilament medium polypeptide and beta-III-tubulin), and neurotransmitter expression [neuropeptide Y (NPY), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and Substance P]. BMP2 increased the differentiation of enteric neurons compared with vehicle and GDNF-treated neurons (P < 0.001). BMP2 increased the expression of the mature neuronal markers (P < 0.05). BMP2 promoted differentiation of NPY-, nNOS-, and TH-expressing neurons (P < 0.001) but had no effect on the expression of cholinergic neurons (ChAT, Substance P). Neurons cultured in the presence of BMP2 have higher numbers of TH-expressing neurons after exposure to 1-methyl 4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) compared with those cultured with MPP(+) alone (P < 0.01). The Smad signal transduction pathway has been implicated in TGF-beta signaling. BMP2 induced phosphorylation of Smad1, and the effects of BMP2 on differentiation of enteric neurons were significantly reduced in the presence of Smad1 siRNA, implicating the role of Smad1 in BMP2-induced differentiation. The effects of BMP2 on catecholaminergic neurons may have therapeutic implications in gastrointestinal motility disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Mallappa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anitha
authors.forename: Nikrad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shahnavaz
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Qayed
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gossrau
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mwangi
authors.forename: Shanthi V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Sitaraman
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium / Q000494:pharmacology; D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026602:Nitrergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051898:Smad1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D002395:Catecholamines; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051898:Smad1 Protein; C497401:Smad1 protein, mouse; D014404:Tubulin; C462941:beta3 tubulin, mouse; C061195:neurofilament protein M; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; C496976:Uchl1 protein, mouse; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium