title: The regenerating spinal cord of gecko maintains unaltered expression of β-catenin following tail amputation.
abstract: The Wingless/Integrated (Wnt) signaling pathway plays important roles in central nervous system (CNS) development and regeneration, and β-catenin, the central component, has been considered in association with adult neurogenesis. To decipher its roles on spontaneous spinal cord regeneration, we cloned β-catenin from Gekko japonicus and examined its function in regenerating spinal cord. The protein was localized in the neurons and oligodendrocytes and maintained a stable expression levels during the spinal cord regeneration. The temporal pattern of expression has been found to be completely distinct with those of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Experiments of gain-of-function by overexpression of full length β-catenin or stabilized ΔN90-β-catenin revealed that the accumulated protein attenuates the elongation of neurites and oligodendrocyte process. Knockdown of endogenous β-catenin, however, decreased proliferation of oligodendrocytes by affecting expression of downstream lef1 and c-jun. The upregulated extracellular matrix fibronectin in injured cord was found to be inefficient in regulation of β-catenin expression. Our results suggest that a tightly regulated stable expression of β-catenin is required for the spontaneous spinal cord regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, 226007, Nantong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Honghua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Yingjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Sumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaosong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008116:Lizards; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D058630:Spinal Cord Regeneration; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D051176:beta Catenin; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3