title: REST levels affect the functional expression of voltage dependent calcium channels and the migratory activity in immortalized GnRH neurons.
abstract: The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) has emerged as a key controller of neuronal differentiation and has been shown to play a critical role in the expression of the neuronal phenotype; however, much has still to be learned about its role at specific developmental stages and about the functional targets affected. Among these targets, calcium signaling mechanisms are critically dependent on the developmental stage and their full expression is a hallmark of the mature, functional neuron. We have analyzed the role played by REST in GN11 cells, an immortalized cell line derived from gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons at an early developmental stage, electrically non-excitable and with a strong migratory activity. We show for the first time that functional voltage-dependent calcium channels are expressed in wild type GN11 cells; down-regulation of REST by a silencing approach shifts these cells towards a more differentiated phenotype, increasing the functional expression of P/Q-type channels and reducing their migratory potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy; NIS Centre for Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antoniotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico Alessandro
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ruffinatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torriano
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luganini
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Digestive Diseases De Bellis, via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy; NIS Centre for Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces, University of Torino, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Torino, Italy. Electronic address: davide.lovisolo@unito.it.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lovisolo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020865:Calcium Channels, P-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D020907:Calcium Channels, Q-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D020865:Calcium Channels, P-Type; D020907:Calcium Channels, Q-Type; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
keywords: Calcium channels; GN11 cells; GT1-7 cells; GnRH neurons; Neuronal migration; REST/NRSF