Up-regulation of FoxN4 expression in adult spinal cord after injury.
FoxN4 (forkhead box N4), which is a transcription factor involved in developing spinal cord and spinal neurogenesis, implied important roles in the central nervous system (CNS). However, its expression and function in the adult CNS lesion are still unclear. In this study, we established a spinal cord injury (SCI) model in adult rats and investigated the expression of FoxN4 in the spinal cord. Western blot analysis revealed that FoxN4 was present in normal spinal cord. It gradually increased, peaked at day 3 after SCI, and then decreased during the following days. Immunohistochemistry further confirmed that FoxN4 was expressed at low levels in gray and white matters in normal condition and increased after SCI. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that FoxN4 is located on neurons and astrocytes, and FoxN4 expression was increased progressively in reactive astrocytes within the vicinity of the lesion, predominately in the white matter. In addition, almost all FoxN4-positive cells also expressed nestin or PCNA. Our data suggested that FoxN4 might play important roles in CNS pathophysiology after SCI.
Department of Spine Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Xiangdong
X
Chen
Yu
Y
Yao
Junjie
J
Guan
Xiaoqing
X
Chen
Feng
F
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D064231:Nestin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D005136:Eye Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C574893:Foxn4 protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen