Increased expression of NLRR-3 mRNA after cortical brain injury in mouse

In Drosophila, members of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family have significant functions in neural development. We have isolated mouse brain cDNAs which encode three new independent LRR proteins (neuronal leucine-rich repeat: NLRR-1, NLRR-2, NLRR-3). Levels of expression of these NLRR mRNAs were measured in a unilateral cortical injury model by in-situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis. In the injured cerebral cortex, only NLRR-3 mRNA increased in layers 2-3, while the other two genes showed no up-regulation. The level of NLRR-3 mRNA induction peaked around 7-10 days postinjury. This study suggests that NLRR-3 may be an important component of the pathophysiological response to brain injury.