title: STAT3 signal that mediates the neural plasticity is involved in willed-movement training in focal ischemic rats.
abstract: Willed-movement training has been demonstrated to be a promising approach to increase motor performance and neural plasticity in ischemic rats. However, little is known regarding the molecular signals that are involved in neural plasticity following willed-movement training. To investigate the potential signals related to neural plasticity following willed-movement training, littermate rats were randomly assigned into three groups: middle cerebral artery occlusion, environmental modification, and willed-movement training. The infarct volume was measured 18 d after occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the changes in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mRNA and protein, respectively. A chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to investigate whether STAT3 bound to plasticity-related genes, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), synaptophysin, and protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1). In this study, we demonstrated that STAT3 mRNA and protein were markedly increased following 15-d willed-movement training in the ischemic hemispheres of the treated rats. STAT3 bound to BDNF, PICK1, and synaptophysin promoters in the neocortical cells of rats. These data suggest that the increased STAT3 levels after willed-movement training might play critical roles in the neural plasticity by directly regulating plasticity-related genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Brain Hospital of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, China.|Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: Li-Xiang
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brain Hospital of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Song
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, the Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
authors.forename: Gai-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Hao
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Zun-Jing
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C498298:PICK1 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494088:Stat3 protein, rat
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); Motor training; Neural plasticity; Protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1); Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)