title: The isolectin IB4 binds RET receptor tyrosine kinase in microglia.
abstract: Ret receptor tyrosine kinase is the signaling component of the receptor complex for the family ligands of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Ret is involved in the development of enteric nervous system, of sympathetic, parasympathetic, motor and sensory neurons, and it is necessary for the post-natal maintenance of dopaminergic neurons. Ret expression has been as well demonstrated on microglia and several evidence indicate that GDNF regulates not only neuronal survival and maturation but also certain functions of microglia in the brain. Here, we demonstrated that the plant lectin Griffonia (Bandeiraea) simplicifolia lectin I, isolectin B4 (IB4), commonly used as a microglial marker in the brain, binds to the glycosylated extracellular domain of Ret on the surface of living NIH3T3 fibroblasts cells stably transfected with Ret as well as in adult rat brain as revealed by immunoblotting. Furthermore, confocal immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated a clear overlap in staining between pRet and IB4 in primary microglia cultures as well as in adult rat sections obtained from control or post-ischemic brain after permanent middle artery occlusion (pMCAO). Interestingly, IB4 staining identified activated or ameboid Ret-expressing microglia under ischemic conditions. Collectively, our data indicate Ret receptor as one of the IB4-reactive glycoconjugate accounting for the IB4 stain in microglia under physiological and ischemic conditions.
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Farmacologia, Facolta' di Medicina e Chirurgia, Universita' degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Boscia
authors: Carla Lucia
authors: CL
authors: Esposito
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Casamassa
authors: Vittorio
authors: V
authors: de Franciscis
authors: Lucio
authors: L
authors: Annunziato
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Cerchia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a; D018814:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2b; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C494989:Gfra1 protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
keywords: GDNF; IB4; Ret receptor; brain ischemia; microglia