title: Endogenous expression of matriptase in neural progenitor cells promotes cell migration and neuron differentiation.
abstract: Recent studies show that type II transmembrane serine proteases play important roles in diverse cellular activities and pathological processes. Their expression and functions in the central nervous system, however, are largely unexplored. In this study, we show that the expression of one such member, matriptase (MTP), was cell type-restricted and primarily expressed in neural progenitor (NP) cells and neurons. Blocking MTP expression or MTP activity prevented NP cell traverse of reconstituted basement membrane, whereas overexpression of MTP promoted it. The NP cell mobilization induced by either vascular endothelial growth factor or hepatocyte growth factor was also impaired by knocking down MTP expression. MTP acts upstream of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in promoting NP cell mobility. In embryonic stem cell differentiation to neural cells, MTP knockdown had no effect on entry of embryonic stem cells into the neural lineage. High MTP expression or activity, however, shifts the population dynamics from NP cells toward neurons to favor neuronal differentiation. This is the first report to demonstrate the direct involvement of type II transmembrane serine protease in NP cell function.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular and Systems Medicine, National Health Research Institution, 35 Keyan Rd, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jung-Da
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hsiao-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Hsiu-Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Pao-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Sheau-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C485595:matriptase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C522362:Mmp2 protein, mouse