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TCTP is Essential for Cell Proliferation and Survival during CNS Development
Sung-Ho Chen1,2, Chin-Hung Lu2, Ming-Jen Tsai3
1Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan.
Cells
|January 16, 2020
Summary
Translationally controlled tumor-associated protein (TCTP) is essential for neural progenitor cell survival. Disrupting TCTP in mice leads to increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation, and perinatal death, highlighting its critical role in central nervous system development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Translationally controlled tumor-associated protein (TCTP) is involved in cell growth and apoptosis.
- TCTP is abundant in the mouse brain, but its function in neurogenesis is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TCTP in the development of the nervous system using genetically modified mice.
Main Methods:
- Nestin-cre-driven gene-mutated mice with disrupted TCTP in neuronal and glial progenitor cells were generated.
- Phenotypic analysis included body size, stomach contents, cell proliferation assays (TUNEL), and apoptosis assays (caspase).
- Gene expression analysis of key proteins involved in cell cycle and survival was performed.
Main Results:
- TCTP-disrupted mice exhibited perinatal lethality, reduced body size, and lack of feeding.
- Conditional knockout mice showed decreased neural progenitor cell proliferation and increased apoptosis.
- Reduced expression of cyclins D2, E2, Mcl-1, Bcl-xL, hax-1, and Oct4 was observed in TCTP-disrupted cells.
Conclusions:
- TCTP is crucial for the survival of neural and glial progenitor cells during early central nervous system development.
- TCTP deficiency leads to increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation, contributing to neurodevelopmental defects and perinatal death.
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