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Triiodothyronine is a survival factor for developing oligodendrocytes.
Sidney A Jones1, Dawn M Jolson, Kristin K Cuta
1Department of Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
|February 13, 2003
Summary
Thyroid hormone, specifically triiodothyronine (T3), is essential for the survival of developing oligodendrocytes. Without T3, these crucial cells undergo apoptosis after the initial developmental phase.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Oligodendrocytes are vital for central nervous system myelination.
- Thyroid hormone influences various aspects of oligodendrocyte development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of thyroid hormone, specifically triiodothyronine (T3), in oligodendrocyte survival during development.
- To determine the mechanism by which T3 affects oligodendrocyte survival.
Main Methods:
- Primary cell cultures of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, astrocytes, and microglia.
- Induction of differentiation via growth factor removal.
- Time-course analysis of oligodendrocyte development with and without T3.
- Apoptosis assays including TdT-Mediated dUDP Nick End Labeling and Hoechst staining.
Main Results:
- Oligodendrocytes develop similarly in the presence or absence of T3 for the first 3 days.
- Oligodendrocytes cultured without T3 undergo apoptosis after developmental day 3.
- T3 administration rescues developing oligodendrocytes from apoptosis.
- Cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta are implicated in apoptosis, but their expression is not altered by T3.
Conclusions:
- Thyroid hormone (T3) is critical for oligodendrocyte survival during development.
- T3 prevents apoptosis in developing oligodendrocytes, independent of altering pro-apoptotic cytokine expression.
- This study adds oligodendrocyte survival to the known effects of thyroid hormone on proliferation and myelin gene expression.