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Differential expression of ARIA isoforms in the rat brain
G Corfas1, K M Rosen, H Aratake
1Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Neuron
|January 1, 1995
Summary
ARIA, a growth factor, is expressed in rat brain cholinergic neurons and induces protein phosphorylation. Its widespread distribution suggests roles in neuronal function and precursor cell development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- ARIA (Amphiregulin), heregulin, and related factors are novel growth/differentiation factors.
- Their effects have been observed in Schwann cells, muscle, and tumor cell lines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and role of ARIA in the central nervous system (CNS).
Main Methods:
- Studied ARIA mRNA expression in the adult rat brain using in situ hybridization.
- Examined ARIA's effect on tyrosine phosphorylation of target proteins.
Main Results:
- ARIA mRNA was detected in all CNS cholinergic neurons, including motor neurons and basal forebrain nuclei.
- ARIA induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a 185 kDa protein in targets of these neurons.
- ARIA mRNA was also found in germinal layers, outside cholinergic neurons.
Conclusions:
- ARIA is prominently expressed in cholinergic neurons and their targets within the CNS.
- ARIA may influence neuronal function and potentially play a role in neuronal and glial precursor cell proliferation/migration.
