Cholesterol homeostasis markers are localized to mouse hippocampal pyramidal and granule layers.
Changes in brain cholesterol homeostasis are associated with multiple diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's; however, controversy persists as to whether adult neurons produce their own cholesterol, or if it is outsourced to astrocytes. To address this issue, we analyzed 25 genes most immediately involved in cholesterol homeostasis from in situ data provided by the Allen Brain Mouse Atlas. We compared the relative mRNA expression in the pyramidal and granule layers, populated with neurons, with the rest of the hippocampus which is populated with neuronal processes and glia. Comparing the expression of the individual genes to markers for neurons and astrocytes, we found that cholesterol homeostasis genes are preferentially targeted to neuronal layers. Therefore, changes in gene expression levels might affect neuronal populations directly.
Valdez
Chris M
CM
Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA.
Smith
Mark A
MA
Perry
George
G
Phelix
Clyde F
CF
Santamaria
Fidel
F
D000818:Animals; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C506119:Insig1 protein, mouse; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C528686:SREB2 protein, mouse; C102196:SREBP cleavage-activating protein; C528900:glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse; D002784:Cholesterol; C104722:glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2