Posttranscriptional regulation of p18 and p27 Cdk inhibitor proteins and the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation

Inactivation of CDK4/6, CDK2, and ERK in G1-phase triggers differentiation commitment

Terminal cell differentiation, a process vital for tissue development and regeneration where progenitor cells acquire specialized functions and permanently exit the cell cycle, is still poorly understood at the molecular level. Using live-cell imaging and adipogenesis as a model, we demonstrate that the initial stage involves a variable number of cell divisions driven by redundant CDK4/6 or CDK2 activation.. Subsequently, a delayed decrease in cyclin D1 and an increase in p27 levels leads to the attenuation of CDK4/6 and CDK2 activity. This results in G1 lengthening and the induction of PPARG, the master regulator of adipogenesis. PPARG then induces p21, and later p18, culminating in the irreversible inactivation of CDK4/6 and CDK2, and thus, permanent cell cycle exit. However, contrary to expectation, CDK inactivation alone is not sufficient to trigger commitment to differentiation and functional specialization; ERK inactivation is also required. Our study establishes that the coordinated activation and subsequent delayed inactivation of CDK4/6, CDK2, and ERK are crucial determinants for irreversible cell cycle exit and differentiation commitment in terminal cell differentiation.

Nuclear receptors and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells

Oligodendrocytes are the cells responsible for myelin formation during development and in adulthood, both for normal myelin turnover and myelin repair. These highly specialized cells derive from the oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), through a complex differentiation process involving genetic and epigenetic regulation mechanisms, which switch the phenotype from a migratory and replicative precursor to a mature post-mitotic cell. The process is regulated by a plethora of molecules, involving neurotransmitters, growth factors, hormones and other small molecules, and is mainly driven by nuclear receptors (NRs). NRs are transcription factors with heterogeneous ligand-dependent and independent actions which differ for the cell target, the responsive gene and the formation of NR homo- or heterodimers. This chapter highlights the role of NRs in regulating OPC differentiation, also in view of drug discovery strategies aimed at targeting pathological conditions which interfere with both developmental myelination and remyelination in adulthood.

The Role of Transthyretin in Oligodendrocyte Development

Transthyretin (TTR) is a protein that binds and distributes thyroid hormones (THs) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Previously, two reports identified TTR null mice as hypothyroid in the central nervous system (CNS). This prompted our investigations into developmentally regulated TH-dependent processes in brains of wildtype and TTR null mice. Despite logical expectations of a hypomyelinating phenotype in the CNS of TTR null mice, we observed a hypermyelination phenotype, synchronous with an increase in the density of oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum and anterior commissure of TTR null mice during postnatal development. Furthermore, absence of TTR enhanced proliferation and migration of OPCs with decreased apoptosis. Neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from the subventricular zone of TTR null mice at P21 revealed that the absence of TTR promoted NSC differentiation toward a glial lineage. Importantly, we identified TTR synthesis in OPCs, suggestive of an alternate biological function in these cells that may extend beyond an extracellular TH-distributor protein. The hypermyelination mechanism may involve increased pAKT (involved in oligodendrocyte maturation) in TTR null mice. Elucidating the regulatory role of TTR in NSC and OPC biology could lead to potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of acquired demyelinating diseases.

The role of nuclear receptors in the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells derived from fetal and adult neural stem cells

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) differentiation from multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) into mature oligodendrocytes is driven by thyroid hormone and mediated by thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). We show that several nuclear receptors display strong changes in expression levels between fetal and adult NSCs, with an overexpression of TRβ and a lower expression of RXRγ in adult. Such changes may determine the reduced capacity of adult OPCs to differentiate as supported by reduced yield of maturation and compromised mRNA expression of key genes. RXRγ may be the determinant of these differences, on the evidence of reduced number of mature oligodendrocytes and increased number of proliferating OPCs in RXRγ-/- cultures. Such data also points to RXRγ as an important regulator of the cell cycle exit, as proved by the dysregulation of T3-induced cell cycle exit-related genes. Our data highlight the biological differences between fetal and adult OPCs and demonstrate the essential role of RXRγ in the T3-mediated OPCs maturation process.

Oligodendroglial defects during quakingviable cerebellar development

The selective RNA-binding protein Quaking I (QKI) has previously been implicated in RNA localization and stabilization, alternative splicing, cell proliferation, and differentiation. The spontaneously-occurring quakingviable (qkv) mutant mouse exhibits a sharply attenuated level of QKI in myelin-producing cells, including oligodendrocytes (OL) because of the loss of an OL-specific promoter. The disruption of QKI in OLs results in severe hypomyelination of the central nervous system, but the underlying cellular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we used the qkv mutant mouse as a model to study myelination defects in the cerebellum. We found that oligodendroglial development and myelination are adversely affected in the cerebellum of qkv mice. Specifically, we identified an increase in the total number of oligodendroglial precursor cells in qkv cerebella, a substantial portion of which migrated into the grey matter. Furthermore, these mislocalized oligodendroglial precursor cells retained their migratory morphology late into development. Interestingly, a number of these presumptive oligodendrocyte precursors were found at the Purkinje cell layer in qkv cerebella, resembling Bergman glia. These findings indicate that QKI is involved in multiple aspects of oligodendroglial development. QKI disruption can impact the cell fate of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, their migration and differentiation, and ultimately myelination in the cerebellum. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 972-982, 2016.

Intracellular Protein Shuttling: A Mechanism Relevant for Myelin Repair in Multiple Sclerosis?

A prominent feature of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) is the degeneration and loss of previously established functional myelin sheaths, which results in impaired signal propagation and axonal damage. However, at least in early disease stages, partial replacement of lost oligodendrocytes and thus remyelination occur as a result of resident oligodendroglial precursor cell (OPC) activation. These cells represent a widespread cell population within the adult central nervous system (CNS) that can differentiate into functional myelinating glial cells to restore axonal functions. Nevertheless, the spontaneous remyelination capacity in the adult CNS is inefficient because OPCs often fail to generate new oligodendrocytes due to the lack of stimulatory cues and the presence of inhibitory factors. Recent studies have provided evidence that regulated intracellular protein shuttling is functionally involved in oligodendroglial differentiation and remyelination activities. In this review we shed light on the role of the subcellular localization of differentiation-associated factors within oligodendroglial cells and show that regulation of intracellular localization of regulatory factors represents a crucial process to modulate oligodendroglial maturation and myelin repair in the CNS.

TGFβ signaling regulates the timing of CNS myelination by modulating oligodendrocyte progenitor cell cycle exit through SMAD3/4/FoxO1/Sp1

Research on myelination has focused on identifying molecules capable of inducing oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation in an effort to develop strategies that promote functional myelin regeneration in demyelinating disorders. Here, we show that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling is crucial for allowing oligodendrocyte progenitor (OP) cell cycle withdrawal, and therefore, for oligodendrogenesis and postnatal CNS myelination. Enhanced oligodendrogenesis and subcortical white matter (SCWM) myelination was detected after TGFβ gain of function, while TGFβ receptor II (TGFβ-RII) deletion in OPs prevents their development into mature myelinating OLs, leading to SCWM hypomyelination in mice. TGFβ signaling modulates OP cell cycle withdrawal and differentiation through the transcriptional modulation of c-myc and p21 gene expression, mediated by the interaction of SMAD3/4 with Sp1 and FoxO1 transcription factors. Our study is the first to demonstrate an autonomous and crucial role of TGFβ signaling in OL development and CNS myelination, and may provide new avenues in the treatment of demyelinating diseases.

From precursors to myelinating oligodendrocytes: contribution of intrinsic and extrinsic factors to white matter plasticity in the adult brain

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) are glial cells that metamorphose into myelinating oligodendrocytes during embryogenesis and early stages of post-natal life. OPCs continue to divide throughout adulthood and some eventually differentiate into oligodendrocytes in response to demyelinating lesions. There is growing evidence that OPCs are also involved in activity-driven de novo myelination of previously unmyelinated axons and myelin remodeling in adulthood. In this review, we summarize the interwoven factors and cascades that promote the activation, recruitment and differentiation of OPCs into myelinating oligodendrocytes in the adult brain based mostly on results found in the study of demyelinating diseases. The goal of the review was to draw a complete picture of the transformation of OPCs into mature oligodendrocytes to facilitate the study of this transformation in both the normal and diseased adult brain.

E2F1 coregulates cell cycle genes and chromatin components during the transition of oligodendrocyte progenitors from proliferation to differentiation

Cell cycle exit is an obligatory step for the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into myelinating cells. A key regulator of the transition from proliferation to quiescence is the E2F/Rb pathway, whose activity is highly regulated in physiological conditions and deregulated in tumors. In this paper we report a lineage-specific decline of nuclear E2F1 during differentiation of rodent OPC into oligodendrocytes (OLs) in developing white matter tracts and in cultured cells. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and deep-sequencing in mouse and rat OPCs, we identified cell cycle genes (i.e., Cdc2) and chromatin components (i.e., Hmgn1, Hmgn2), including those modulating DNA methylation (i.e., Uhrf1), as E2F1 targets. Binding of E2F1 to chromatin on the gene targets was validated and their expression assessed in developing white matter tracts and cultured OPCs. Increased expression of E2F1 gene targets was also detected in mouse gliomas (that were induced by retroviral transformation of OPCs) compared with normal brain. Together, these data identify E2F1 as a key transcription factor modulating the expression of chromatin components in OPC during the transition from proliferation to differentiation.

Myelin inhibits oligodendroglial maturation and regulates oligodendrocytic transcription factor expression

Myelin loss is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) and promoting central nervous system myelin repair has become a major therapeutic target. Despite the presence of oligodendrocytes precursors cells (OPCs) in chronic lesions of MS, remyelination often fails. The mechanism underlying this failure of remyelination remains unknown, but it is hypothesized that environmental cues act to inhibit the maturation/differentiation of oligodendroglia, preventing remyelination. The rate of CNS remyelination is correlated to the speed of phagocytosis of myelin debris, which is present following demyelination and trauma. Thus, myelin debris could inhibit CNS remyelination. Here, we demonstrate that OPCs cultured on myelin were robustly inhibited in their maturation, as characterized by the decreased expression of immature and mature oligodendrocytes markers, the impaired production of myelin gene products, as well as their stalled morphological complexity relative to OPCs cultured on a control substrate. OPCs in contact with myelin stopped proliferating and decreased the expression of OPC markers to a comparable degree as cells grown on a control substrate. The expression of two transcription factors known to prevent OPC differentiation and maturation were increased in cells that were in contact with myelin: inhibitor of differentiation family (ID) members 2 and 4. Overexpression of ID2 and ID4 in OPCs was previously reported to decrease the percentage of cells expressing mature oligodendrocyte markers. However, knockdown of ID2 and/or ID4 in OPCs did not increase oligodendroglial maturation on or off of myelin, suggesting that contact with myelin regulates additional regulatory elements.

Regulation of the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation: mechanisms and perspectives

Axonal myelination is an essential process for normal functioning of the vertebrate central nervous system. Proper formation of myelin sheaths around axons depends on the timely differentiation of oligodendrocytes. This differentiation occurs on a predictable schedule both in culture and during development. However, the timing mechanisms for oligodendrocyte differentiation during normal development have not been fully uncovered. Recent studies have identified a large number of regulatory factors, including cell-intrinsic factors and extracellular signals, that could control the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Here we provide a mechanistic and critical review of the timing control of oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Events at the transition between cell cycle exit and oligodendrocyte progenitor differentiation: the role of HDAC and YY1

The complexity of the adult brain is the result of an integrated series of developmental events that depends on appropriate timing of differentiation. The importance of transcriptional regulatory networks and epigenetic mechanisms of regulation of gene expression is becoming increasingly evident. Among these mechanisms, previous work has revealed the importance of histone deacetylation in oligodendrocyte differentiation. In this manuscript we define the region of interaction between transcription factor Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) and histone deacetylase 1, and characterize the functional consequences of YY1 overexpression on the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitors.

Delayed expression of cell cycle proteins contributes to astroglial scar formation and chronic inflammation after rat spinal cord contusion

BACKGROUND

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) induces secondary tissue damage that is associated with astrogliosis and inflammation. We previously reported that acute upregulation of a cluster of cell-cycle-related genes contributes to post-mitotic cell death and secondary damage after SCI. However, it remains unclear whether cell cycle activation continues more chronically and contributes to more delayed glial change. Here we examined expression of cell cycle-related proteins up to 4 months following SCI, as well as the effects of the selective cyclin-dependent kinase (CDKs) inhibitor CR8, on astrogliosis and microglial activation in a rat SCI contusion model.

METHODS

Adult male rats were subjected to moderate spinal cord contusion injury at T8 using a well-characterized weight-drop model. Tissue from the lesion epicenter was obtained 4 weeks or 4 months post-injury, and processed for protein expression and lesion volume. Functional recovery was assessed over the 4 months after injury.

RESULTS

Immunoblot analysis demonstrated a marked continued upregulation of cell cycle-related proteins - including cyclin D1 and E, CDK4, E2F5 and PCNA - for 4 months post-injury that were highly expressed by GFAP+ astrocytes and microglia, and co-localized with inflammatory-related proteins. CR8 administrated systemically 3 h post-injury and continued for 7 days limited the sustained elevation of cell cycle proteins and immunoreactivity of GFAP, Iba-1 and p22PHOX - a key component of NADPH oxidase - up to 4 months after SCI. CR8 treatment significantly reduced lesion volume, which typically progressed in untreated animals between 1 and 4 months after trauma. Functional recovery was also significantly improved by CR8 treatment after SCI from week 2 through week 16.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that cell cycle-related proteins are chronically upregulated after SCI and may contribute to astroglial scar formation, chronic inflammation and further tissue loss.

Differential requirement of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 for oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation

Cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) and their cyclin regulatory subunits control cell growth and division. Cdk2-cyclin E complexes, phosphorylating the retinoblastoma protein, drive cells through the G1/S transition into the S phase of the cell cycle. Despite its fundamental role, Cdk2 was found to be indispensable only in specific cell types due to molecular redundancies in its function. Converging studies highlight involvement of Cdk2 and associated cell cycle regulatory proteins in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. Giving the contribution of this immature cell type to brain plasticity and repair in the adult, this review will explore the requirement of Cdk2 for oligodendrogenesis, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells proliferation and differentiation during physiological and pathological conditions.

Delayed cell cycle pathway modulation facilitates recovery after spinal cord injury

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) causes tissue loss and associated neurological dysfunction through mechanical damage and secondary biochemical and physiological responses. We have previously described the pathobiological role of cell cycle pathways following rat contusion SCI by examining the effects of early intrathecal cell cycle inhibitor treatment initiation or gene knockout on secondary injury. Here, we delineate changes in cell cycle pathway activation following SCI and examine the effects of delayed (24 h) systemic administration of flavopiridol, an inhibitor of major cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), on functional recovery and histopathology in a rat SCI contusion model. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated a marked upregulation of cell cycle-related proteins, including pRb, cyclin D1, CDK4, E2F1 and PCNA, at various time points following SCI, along with downregulation of the endogenous CDK inhibitor p27. Treatment with flavopiridol reduced induction of cell cycle proteins and increased p27 expression in the injured spinal cord. Functional recovery was significantly improved after SCI from day 7 through day 28. Treatment significantly reduced lesion volume and the number of Iba-1(+) microglia in the preserved tissue and increased the myelinated area of spared white matter as well as the number of CC1(+) oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, flavopiridol attenuated expression of Iba-1 and glactin-3, associated with microglial activation and astrocytic reactivity by reduction of GFAP, NG2, and CHL1 expression. Our current study supports the role of cell cycle activation in the pathophysiology of SCI and by using a clinically relevant treatment model, provides further support for the therapeutic potential of cell cycle inhibitors in the treatment of human SCI.

Loss of protein-tyrosine phosphatase α (PTPα) increases proliferation and delays maturation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells

Tightly controlled termination of proliferation determines when oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) can initiate differentiation and mature into myelin-forming cells. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase α (PTPα) promotes OPC differentiation, but its role in proliferation is unknown. Here we report that loss of PTPα enhanced in vitro proliferation and survival and decreased cell cycle exit and growth factor dependence of OPCs but not neural stem/progenitor cells. PTPα(-/-) mice have more oligodendrocyte lineage cells in embryonic forebrain and delayed OPC maturation. On the molecular level, PTPα-deficient mouse OPCs and rat CG4 cells have decreased Fyn and increased Ras, Cdc42, Rac1, and Rho activities, and reduced expression of the Cdk inhibitor p27Kip1. Moreover, Fyn was required to suppress Ras and Rho and for p27Kip1 accumulation, and Rho inhibition in PTPα-deficient cells restored expression of p27Kip1. We propose that PTPα-Fyn signaling negatively regulates OPC proliferation by down-regulating Ras and Rho, leading to p27Kip1 accumulation and cell cycle exit. Thus, PTPα acts in OPCs to limit self-renewal and facilitate differentiation.

Development and maturation of the spinal cord: implications of molecular and genetic defects

The human central nervous system (CNS) may be the most complex structure in the universe. Its development and appropriate specification into phenotypically and spatially distinct neural subpopulations involves a precisely orchestrated response, with thousands of transcriptional regulators combining with epigenetic controls and specific temporal cues in perfect synchrony. Understandably, our insight into the sophisticated molecular mechanisms which underlie spinal cord development are as yet limited. Even less is known about abnormalities of this process - putative genetic and molecular causes of well-described defects have only begun to emerge in recent years. Nonetheless, modern scientific techniques are beginning to demonstrate common patterns and principles amid the tremendous complexity of spinal cord development and maldevelopment. These advances are important, given that developmental anomalies of the spinal cord are an important cause of mortality and morbidity (Sadler, 2000); it is hoped that research advances will lead to better methods to detect, treat, and prevent these lesions.

Looking back

In this Perspective, I review my scientific career, which began after I trained in medicine in Montreal and in neurology in Boston. I started in immunology in London with Avrion Mitchison, using antibodies against cell-surface antigens to study the development and functions of mouse T and B cells. The finding that antibody binding causes immunoglobulin on B cells to redistribute rapidly on the cell surface and be endocytosed transformed me from an immunologist into a cell biologist. I moved with Mitchison to University College London, where my colleagues and I used the antibody approach to study cells of the rodent nervous system, focusing on the intrinsic and extrinsic molecular mechanisms that control the development and behavior of myelinating glial cells-Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes. I retired from active research in 2002 and now spend much of my time on scientific advisory boards and thinking about autism.

Reconstruction of rat retinal progenitor cell lineages in vitro reveals a surprising degree of stochasticity in cell fate decisions

In vivo cell lineage-tracing studies in the vertebrate retina have revealed that the sizes and cellular compositions of retinal clones are highly variable. It has been challenging to ascertain whether this variability reflects distinct but reproducible lineages among many different retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) or is the product of stochastic fate decisions operating within a population of more equivalent RPCs. To begin to distinguish these possibilities, we developed a method for long-term videomicroscopy to follow the lineages of rat perinatal RPCs cultured at clonal density. In such cultures, cell-cell interactions between two different clones are eliminated and the extracellular environment is kept constant, allowing us to study the cell-intrinsic potential of a given RPC. Quantitative analysis of the reconstructed lineages showed that the mode of division of RPCs is strikingly consistent with a simple stochastic pattern of behavior in which the decision to multiply or differentiate is set by fixed probabilities. The variability seen in the composition and order of cell type genesis within clones is well described by assuming that each of the four different retinal cell types generated at this stage is chosen stochastically by differentiating neurons, with relative probabilities of each type set by their abundance in the mature retina. Although a few of the many possible combinations of cell types within clones occur at frequencies that are incompatible with a fully stochastic model, our results support the notion that stochasticity has a major role during retinal development and therefore possibly in other parts of the central nervous system.

Mathematical and experimental approaches to identify and predict the effects of chemotherapy on neuroglial precursors

The adverse effects of chemotherapy on normal cells of the body create substantial clinical problems for many cancer patients. However, relatively little is known about the effects, other than promotion of cell death, of such agents on the function of normal precursor cells critical in tissue homeostasis and repair. We have combined mathematical and experimental analyses to identify the effects of sublethal doses of chemotherapy on glial precursor cells of the central nervous system. We modeled the temporal development of a population of precursor and terminally differentiated cells exposed to sublethal doses of carmustine (BCNU), a classic alkylating chemotherapeutic agent used in treatment of gliomas and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, as a multitype age-dependent branching process. We fitted our model to data from in vitro clonal experiments using the method of pseudo-likelihood. This approach identifies several novel drug effects, including modification of the cell cycle length, the time between division and differentiation, and alteration in the probability of undergoing self-renewal division in precursor cells. These changes of precursor cell function in the chemotherapy-exposed brain may have profound clinic implications.

MAJOR FINDINGS

We applied our computational approach to analyze the effects of BCNU on clonal cultures of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells-one of the best-characterized neural progenitor cells in the mammalian brain. Our analysis reveals that transient exposures to BCNU increased the cell cycle length of progenitor cells and decreased their time to differentiation, while also decreasing the likelihood that they will undergo self-renewing divisions. By investigating the behavior of our mathematical model, we demonstrate that precursor cell populations should recover spontaneously from transient modifications of the timing of division and of differentiation, but such recovery will not happen after alteration of cell fate. These studies identify means by which precursor cell function can be critically compromised by transient exposure to chemotherapy with long-term consequences on the progenitor cell pool even in the absence of drug-induced apoptosis. These analyses also provide novel tools that apply broadly to identify effects of chemotherapeutic agents and other physiological stressors.

Tapping into the glial reservoir: cells committed to remaining uncommitted

The development and maturation of the oligodendrocyte requires a series of highly orchestrated events that coordinate the proliferation and differentiation of the oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) as well as the spatiotemporal regulation of myelination. In recent years, widespread interest has been devoted to the therapeutic potential of adult OPCs scattered throughout the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we highlight molecular mechanisms controlling OPC differentiation during development and the implication of these mechanisms on adult OPCs for remyelination. Cell-autonomous regulators of differentiation and the heterogeneous microenvironment of the developing and the adult CNS may provide coordinated inhibitory cues that ultimately maintain a reservoir of uncommitted glia.

Molecular control of brain size: regulators of neural stem cell life, death and beyond

The proper development of the brain and other organs depends on multiple parameters, including strictly controlled expansion of specific progenitor pools. The regulation of such expansion events includes enzymatic activities that govern the correct number of specific cells to be generated via an orchestrated control of cell proliferation, cell cycle exit, differentiation, cell death etc. Certain proteins in turn exert direct control of these enzymatic activities and thus progenitor pool expansion and organ size. The members of the Cip/Kip family (p21Cip1/p27Kip1/p57Kip2) are well-known regulators of cell cycle exit that interact with and inhibit the activity of cyclin-CDK complexes, whereas members of the p53/p63/p73 family are traditionally associated with regulation of cell death. It has however become clear that the roles for these proteins are not as clear-cut as initially thought. In this review, we discuss the roles for proteins of the Cip/Kip and p53/p63/p73 families in the regulation of cell cycle control, differentiation, and death of neural stem cells. We suggest that these proteins act as molecular interfaces, or "pilots", to assure the correct assembly of protein complexes with enzymatic activities at the right place at the right time, thereby regulating essential decisions in multiple cellular events.

The oligodendrocyte-specific G protein-coupled receptor GPR17 is a cell-intrinsic timer of myelination

The bHLH transcription factor Olig1 promotes oligodendrocyte maturation and is required for myelin repair. In this report, we characterize an Olig1-regulated G-protein coupled receptor GPR17 whose function is to oppose the action of Olig1. GPR17 is restricted to oligodendrocyte lineage cells but downregulated during the peak period of myelination and in adulthood. Transgenic mice with sustained GPR17 expression in oligodendrocytes exhibit stereotypic features of myelinating disorders in the CNS. GPR17 overexpression inhibits oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation both in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, GPR17 knockout mice display early onset of oligodendrocyte myelination. The opposing action of GPR17 on oligodendrocyte maturation reflects, at least partially, upregulation and nuclear translocation of the potent oligodendrocyte differentiation inhibitors ID2/4. Collectively, these findings suggest that GPR17 orchestrates the transition between immature and myelinating oligodendrocytes via an ID protein-mediated negative regulation, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CNS myelin repair.

Increased proliferation but decreased steroidogenic capacity in Leydig cells from mice lacking cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B

Proliferating cells express cyclins, cell cycle regulatory proteins that regulate the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). The actions of CDKs are regulated by specific inhibitors, the CDK inhibitors (CDKIs), which are comprised of the Cip/Kip and INK4 families. Expression of the Cip/Kip CDKI 1B (Cdkn1b, encoding protein CDKN1B, also called p27(kip1)) in developing Leydig cells (LCs) has been reported, but the function of CDKN1B in LCs is unclear. The goal of the present study was to determine the effects of CDKN1B on LC proliferation and steroidogenesis by examining these parameters in Cdkn1b knockout (Cdkn1b(-/-)) mice. LC proliferation was measured by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Testicular testosterone levels, mRNA levels, and enzyme activities of steroidogenic enzymes were compared in Cdkn1b(-/-) and Cdkn1b(+/+) mice. The labeling index of LCs in Cdkn1b(-/-) mice was 1.5% +/- 0.2%, almost 7-fold higher than 0.2% +/- 0.08% (P < 0.001) in the Cdkn1b(+/+) control mice. LC number per testis in Cdkn1b(-/-) mice was 2-fold that seen in the Cdkn1b(+/+) control mice. However, testicular testosterone levels, mRNA levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (Star), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (Cyp11a1), and 3beta-hydroxtsteroid dehydrogenase 6 (Hsd3b6), and their respective proteins, were significantly lower in Cdkn1b(-/-) mice. We conclude that deficiency of CDKN1B increased LC proliferation, but decreased steroidogenesis. Thus, CDKN1B is an important regulator of LC development and function.

Purpose and regulation of stem cells: a systems-biology view from the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line

Stem cells are expected to play a key role in the development and maintenance of organisms, and hold great therapeutic promises. However, a number of questions must be answered to achieve an understanding of stem cells and put them to use. Here I review some of these questions, and how they relate to the model system provided by the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line, which is exceptional in its thorough genetic characterization and experimental accessibility under in vivo conditions. A fundamental question is how to define a stem cell; different definitions can be adopted that capture different features of interest. In the C. elegans germ line, stem cells can be defined by cell lineage or by cell commitment ('commitment' must itself be carefully defined). These definitions are associated with two other important questions about stem cells: their functions (which must be addressed following a systems approach, based on an evolutionary perspective) and their regulation. I review possible functions and their evolutionary groundings, including genome maintenance and powerful regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, and possible regulatory mechanisms, including asymmetrical division and control of transit amplification by a developmental timer. I draw parallels between Drosophila and C. elegans germline stem cells; such parallels raise intriguing questions about Drosophila stem cells. I conclude by showing that the C. elegans germ line bears similarities with a number of other stem cell systems, which underscores its relevance to the understanding of stem cells.

Differential post-transcriptional regulation of two Ink4 proteins, p18 Ink4c and p19 Ink4d

Cyclin(-D-)-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors of the Ink4 family specifically bind to Cdk4 and Cdk6, but not to other Cdks. Ink4c and Ink4d mRNAs are maximally and periodically expressed during the G(2)/M phase of the cell division cycle, but the abundance of their encoded proteins is regulated through distinct mechanisms. Both proteins undergo polyubiquitination, but the half life of p18(Ink4c) (approximately 10 hours) is much longer than that of p19(Ink4d) (approximately 2.5 hours). Lysines 46 and 112 are preferred sites of ubiquitin conjugation in p18(Ink4c), although substitution of these and other lysine residues with arginine, particularly in combination, triggers protein misfolding and accelerates p18(Ink4c) degradation. When tethered to either catalytically active or inactive Cdk4 or Cdk6, polyubiquitination of p18(Ink4c) is inhibited, and the protein is further stabilized. Conversely, in competing with p18(Ink4c) for binding to Cdks, cyclin D1 accelerates p18(Ink4c) turnover. In direct contrast, polyubiquitination of p19(Ink4d) is induced by its association with Cdks, whereas cyclin D1 overexpression retards p19(Ink4d) degradation. Although it has been generally assumed that p18(Ink4c) and p19(Ink4d) are biochemically similar Cdk inhibitors, the major differences in their stability and turnover are likely key to understanding their distinct biological functions.

The role of thyroid hormone in testicular development and function

Thyroid hormone is a critical regulator of growth, development, and metabolism in virtually all tissues, and altered thyroid status affects many organs and systems. Although for many years testis has been regarded as a thyroid hormone unresponsive organ, it is now evident that thyroid hormone plays an important role in testicular development and function. A considerable amount of data show that thyroid hormone influences steroidogenesis as well as spermatogenesis. The involvement of tri-iodothyronine (T(3)) in the control of Sertoli cell proliferation and functional maturation is widely accepted, as well as its role in postnatal Leydig cell differentiation and steroidogenesis. The presence of thyroid hormone receptors in testicular cells throughout development and in adulthood implies that T(3) may act directly on these cells to bring about its effects. Several recent studies have employed different methodologies and techniques in an attempt to understand the mechanisms underlying thyroid hormone effects on testicular cells. The current review aims at presenting an updated picture of the recent advances made regarding the role of thyroid hormones in male gonadal function.

Molecular titration and ultrasensitivity in regulatory networks

Protein sequestration occurs when an active protein is sequestered by a repressor into an inactive complex. Using mathematical and computational modeling, we show how this regulatory mechanism (called "molecular titration") can generate ultrasensitive or "all-or-none" responses that are equivalent to highly cooperative processes. The ultrasensitive nature of the input-output response is mainly determined by two parameters: the dimer dissociation constant and the repressor concentration. Because in vivo concentrations are tunable through a variety of mechanisms, molecular titration represents a flexible mechanism for generating ultrasensitivity. Using physiological parameters, we report how details of in vivo protein degradation affect the strength of the ultrasensitivity at steady state. Given that developmental systems often transduce signals into cell-fate decisions on timescales incompatible with steady state, we further examine whether molecular titration can produce ultrasensitive responses within physiologically relevant time intervals. Using Drosophila somatic sex determination as a developmental paradigm, we demonstrate that molecular titration can generate ultrasensitivity on timescales compatible with most cell-fate decisions. Gene duplication followed by loss-of-function mutations can create dominant negatives that titrate and compete with the original protein. Dominant negatives are abundant in gene regulatory circuits, and our results suggest that molecular titration might be generating an ultrasensitive response in these networks.

Post-translational modifications of nucleosomal histones in oligodendrocyte lineage cells in development and disease

The role of epigenetics in modulating gene expression in the development of organs and tissues and in disease states is becoming increasingly evident. Epigenetics refers to the several mechanisms modulating inheritable changes in gene expression that are independent of modifications of the primary DNA sequence and include post-translational modifications of nucleosomal histones, changes in DNA methylation, and the role of microRNA. This review focuses on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in oligodendroglial lineage cells. The biological effects that post-translational modifications of critical residues in the N-terminal tails of nucleosomal histones have on oligodendroglial cells are reviewed, and the implications for disease and repair are critically discussed.

The transcription factor Yin Yang 1 is essential for oligodendrocyte progenitor differentiation

The progression of progenitors to oligodendrocytes requires proliferative arrest and the activation of a transcriptional program of differentiation. While regulation of cell cycle exit has been extensively characterized, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the initiation of differentiation remain ill-defined. Here, we identify the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) as a critical regulator of oligodendrocyte progenitor differentiation. Conditional ablation of yy1 in the oligodendrocyte lineage in vivo induces a phenotype characterized by defective myelination, ataxia, and tremor. At the cellular level, lack of yy1 arrests differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitors after they exit from the cell cycle. At the molecular level, YY1 acts as a lineage-specific repressor of transcriptional inhibitors of myelin gene expression (Tcf4 and Id4), by recruiting histone deacetylase-1 to their promoters during oligodendrocyte differentiation. Thus, we identify YY1 as an essential component of the transcriptional network regulating the transition of oligodendrocyte progenitors from cell cycle exit to differentiation.

A crucial role for p57(Kip2) in the intracellular timer that controls oligodendrocyte differentiation

The intracellular molecular mechanism that controls the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation remains unknown. Temple and Raff (1986) previously showed that an oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) can divide a maximum of approximately eight times before its daughter cells simultaneously cease proliferating and differentiate into oligodendrocytes. They postulated that over time the level of an intracellular molecule might synchronously change in each daughter cell, ultimately reaching a level that prohibited additional proliferation. Here, we report the discovery of such a molecule, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57(Kip2) (Cdkn1c). We show in vitro that all daughters of a clone of OPCs express similar levels of p57(Kip2), that p57(Kip2) levels increase over time in proliferating OPCs, and that p57(Kip2) levels regulate how many times an OPC can divide before differentiating. These findings reveal a novel part of the mechanism by which OPCs measure time and are likely to extend to similar timers in many other precursor cell types.

The selective RNA-binding protein quaking I (QKI) is necessary and sufficient for promoting oligodendroglia differentiation

Quaking I (QKI) is a selective RNA-binding protein essential for myelination of the central nervous system. Three QKI isoforms with distinct C termini and subcellular localization, namely QKI-5, QKI-6, and QKI-7, are expressed in oligodendroglia progenitor cells (OPCs) prior to the initiation of myelin formation and implicated in promoting oligodendrocyte lineage development. However, the functional requirement for each QKI isoform and the mechanisms by which QKI isoforms govern OPC development still remain elusive. We report here that exogenous expression of each QKI isoform is sufficient to enhance differentiation of OPCs with different efficiency, which is abolished by a point mutation that abrogates the RNA binding activity of QKI. Reciprocally, small interfering RNA-mediated QKI knockdown blocks OPC differentiation, which can be partly rescued by QKI-5 and QKI-6 but not by QKI-7, indicating the differential requirement of QKI isoform function in advancing OPC differentiation. Furthermore, we found that abrogation of OPC differentiation, as a result of QKI deficiency, is not due to altered proliferation capacity or cell cycle progression. These results indicate that QKI isoforms are necessary and sufficient for promoting OPC development, which must involve direct influence of QKI on differentiation/maturation of OPCs independent of cell cycle exit, likely via regulating the expression of the target mRNAs of QKI that support OPC differentiation.

The mystery of intracellular developmental programmes and timers

There has been a revolution in understanding animal development in the last 25 years or so, but there is at least one area of development that has been relatively neglected and therefore remains largely mysterious. This is the intracellular programmes and timers that run in developing precursor cells and change the cells over time. The molecular mechanisms underlying these programmes are largely unknown. My colleagues and I have studied such programmes in two types of rodent neural precursor cells: those that give rise to oligodendrocytes, which make myelin in the CNS (central nervous system), and those that give rise to the various cell types in the retina.

Intracellular developmental timers

One of the most poorly understood aspects of animal development is how the timing of developmental events is controlled. In most vertebrate cell lineages, for example, precursor cells divide a limited number of times before they stop and terminally differentiate, but it is not known what controls when the cells stop dividing and differentiate. There is increasing evidence, however, that intracellular timers play an important part. Such cell-intrinsic timers are examples of intracellular developmental programs that change precursor cells over time. My colleagues and I have studied such intracellular timers and programs in rodent oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), as reviewed here.

Stomatal development

Stomata are cellular epidermal valves in plants central to gas exchange and biosphere productivity. The pathways controlling their formation are best understood for Arabidopsis thaliana where stomata are produced through a series of divisions in a dispersed stem cell compartment. The stomatal pathway is an accessible system for analyzing core developmental processes including position-dependent patterning via intercellular signaling and the regulation of the balance between proliferation and cell specification. This review synthesizes what is known about the mechanisms and genes underlying stomatal development. We contrast the functions of genes that act earlier in the pathway, including receptors, kinases, and proteases, with those that act later in the cell lineage. In addition, we discuss the relationships between environmental signals, stomatal development genes, and the capacity for controlling shoot gas exchange.

The Yin and Yang of cell cycle progression and differentiation in the oligodendroglial lineage

In white matter disorders such as leukodystrophies (LD), periventricular leucomalacia (PVL), or multiple sclerosis (MS), the hypomyelination or the remyelination failure by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells involves errors in the sequence of events that normally occur during development when progenitors proliferate, migrate through the white matter, contact the axon, and differentiate into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes. Multiple mechanisms underlie the eventual progressive deterioration that typifies the natural history of developmental demyelination in LD and PVL and of adult-onset demyelination in MS. Over the past few years, pathophysiological studies have mostly focused on seeking abnormalities that impede oligodendroglial maturation at the level of migration, myelination, and survival. In contrast, there has been a strikingly lower interest for early proliferative and differentiation events that are likely to be equally critical for white matter development and myelin repair. This review highlights the Yin and Yang principles of interactions between intrinsic factors that coordinately regulate progenitor cell division and the onset of differentiation, i.e. the initial steps of oligodendrocyte lineage progression that are obviously crucial in health and diseases.

Identification of Sox17 as a transcription factor that regulates oligodendrocyte development

Microarray analysis of oligodendrocyte lineage cells purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) from 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic mice revealed Sox17 (SRY-box containing gene 17) gene expression to be coordinately regulated with that of four myelin genes during postnatal development. In CNP-EGFP-positive (CNP-EGFP+) cells, Sox17 mRNA and protein levels transiently increased between postnatal days 2 and 15, with white matter O4+ preoligodendrocytes expressing greater Sox17 levels than Nkx2.2+ (NK2 transcription factor related, locus 2) NG2+, or GalC+ (galactocerebroside) cells. In spinal cord, Sox17 protein expression was undetectable in the primary motor neuron domain between embryonic days 12.5 and 15.5 but was evident in Nkx2.2+ and CC1+ cells. In cultured oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), Sox17 levels were maximal in O4+ cells and peaked during the phenotypic conversion from bipolar to multipolar. Parallel increases in Sox17 and p27 occurred before MBP protein expression, and Sox17 upregulation was prevented by conditions inhibiting differentiation. Sox17 downregulation with small interfering RNAs increased OPC proliferation and decreased lineage progression after mitogen withdrawal, whereas Sox17 overexpression in the presence of mitogen had opposite effects. Sox17 overexpression enhanced myelin gene expression in OPCs and directly stimulated MBP gene promoter activity. These findings support important roles for Sox17 in controlling both oligodendrocyte progenitor cell cycle exit and differentiation.

Homeodomain transcription factor Phox2a, via cyclic AMP-mediated activation, induces p27Kip1 transcription, coordinating neural progenitor cell cycle exit and differentiation

Mechanisms coordinating neural progenitor cell cycle exit and differentiation are incompletely understood. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) is transcriptionally induced, switching specific neural progenitors from proliferation to differentiation. However, neuronal differentiation-specific transcription factors mediating p27(Kip1) transcription have not been identified. We demonstrate the homeodomain transcription factor Phox2a, required for central nervous system (CNS)- and neural crest (NC)-derived noradrenergic neuron differentiation, coordinates cell cycle exit and differentiation by inducing p27(Kip1) transcription. Phox2a transcription and activation in the CNS-derived CAD cell line and primary NC cells is mediated by combined cyclic AMP (cAMP) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) signaling. In the CAD cellular model, cAMP and BMP2 signaling initially induces proliferation of the undifferentiated precursors, followed by p27(Kip1) transcription, G(1) arrest, and neuronal differentiation. Small interfering RNA silencing of either Phox2a or p27(Kip1) suppresses p27(Kip1) transcription and neuronal differentiation, suggesting a causal link between p27(Kip1) expression and differentiation. Conversely, ectopic Phox2a expression via the Tet-off expression system promotes accelerated CAD cell neuronal differentiation and p27(Kip1) transcription only in the presence of cAMP signaling. Importantly, endogenous or ectopically expressed Phox2a activated by cAMP signaling binds homeodomain cis-acting elements of the p27(Kip1) promoter in vivo and mediates p27(Kip1)-luciferase expression in CAD and NC cells. We conclude that developmental cues of cAMP signaling causally link Phox2a activation with p27(Kip1) transcription, thereby coordinating neural progenitor cell cycle exit and differentiation.

A novel function of OLIG2 to suppress human glial tumor cell growth via p27Kip1 transactivation

The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor OLIG2 is specifically expressed in cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage. It is also expressed in various tumors originating from glial cells; however, the expression of OLIG2 is rare or weak in glioblastomas, the most malignant gliomas. The role of OLIG2 in glioma remains unclear. To investigate the function of OLIG2 in glial tumor cells, we have established a glioblastoma cell line, U12-1, in which the expression of OLIG2 is induced by the Tet-off system. Induction of OLIG2 resulted in suppression of both the proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of U12-1. It also resulted in an increase in the expression of p27Kip1. A luciferase assay revealed that the CTF site of the p27Kip1 gene promoter was essential for OLIG2-dependent activation of p27Kip1 gene transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed that a nuclear extract of OLIG2-expressing U12-1 cells contained a protein complex that binds to the CTF site of the p27Kip1 gene promoter. Furthermore, siRNA against p27Kip1 rescued the OLIG2-mediated growth and DNA synthesis inhibition of U12-1 cells. These results indicate that OLIG2 suppresses the proliferation of U12-1 and that this effect is mediated by transactivation of the p27Kip1 gene, and low expression of OLIG2 may be related to the malignant behavior of human glioblastoma.

Oligodendrocytes exhibit selective expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling genes and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 independent inhibition of interferon-gamma-induced toxicity in response to leukemia inhibitory factor

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the CNS that results in the death of oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS. Previous studies have indicated that the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor prevents the cytotoxic effects of interferon-gamma on oligodendrocytes in vitro, and the death of oligodendrocytes in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Members of a recently characterized family of proteins, the suppressors of cytokine signaling, have been demonstrated to mediate negative cross-talk between cytokines, with induction of suppressors of cytokine signaling proteins by one cytokine inhibiting the activity of a second. Here, we assess whether induction of members of the suppressors of cytokine signaling family could explain the antagonistic biological effects of leukemia inhibitory factor and interferon-gamma upon oligodendrocytes. It is found that leukemia inhibitory factor rapidly and strongly induces the expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 in cultured rat oligodendrocytes, whereas interferon-gamma weakly induces the expression of both suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 and 3. Pre-treatment of oligodendrocytes with leukemia inhibitory factor does not prevent the subsequent phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 by interferon-gamma indicating that the leukemia inhibitory factor inhibition of interferon-gamma toxicity in oligodendrocytes is mediated by a suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 independent mechanism.

Redox regulation of precursor cell function: insights and paradoxes

Studies on oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system, and on the progenitor cells from which they are derived, have provided several novel insights into the role of intracellular redox state in cell function. This review discusses our findings indicating that intracellular redox state is utilized by the organism as a means of regulating the balance between progenitor cell division and differentiation. This regulation is achieved in part through cell-intrinsic differences that modify the response of cells to extracellular signaling molecules, such that cells that are slightly more reduced are more responsive to inducers of cell survival and division and less responsive to inducers of differentiation or cell death. Cells that are slightly more oxidized, in contrast, show a greater response to inducers of differentiation or cell death, but less response to inducers of proliferation or survival. Regulation is also achieved by the ability of exogenous signaling molecules to modify intracellular redox state in a highly predictable manner, such that signaling molecules that promote self-renewal make progenitor cells more reduced and those that promote differentiation make cells more oxidized. In both cases, the redox changes induced by exposure to exogenous signaling molecules are a necessary component of their mode of action. Paradoxically, the results obtained through studies on the oligodendrocyte lineage are precisely the opposite of what might be predicted from a large number of studies demonstrating the ability of reactive oxidative species to enhance the effects of signaling through receptor tyrosine kinase receptors and to promote cell proliferation. Taken in sum, available data demonstrate clearly the existence of two distinct programs of cellular responses to changes in oxidative status. In one of these, becoming even slightly more oxidized is sufficient to inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation. In the second program, similar changes enhance proliferation. It is not yet clear how cells can interpret putatively identical signals in such opposite manners, but it does already seem clear that resolving this paradox will provide insights of considerable relevance to the understanding of normal development, tissue repair, and tumorigenesis.

G1 phase regulation, area-specific cell cycle control, and cytoarchitectonics in the primate cortex

We have investigated the cell cycle-related mechanisms that lead to the emergence of primate areas 17 and 18. These areas are characterized by striking differences in cytoarchitectonics and neuron number. We show in vivo that (1) area 17 precursors of supragranular neurons exhibit a shorter cell cycle duration, a reduced G1 phase, and a higher rate of cell cycle reentry than area 18 precursors; (2) area 17 and area 18 precursors show contrasting and specific levels of expression of cyclin E (high in area 17, low in area 18) and p27Kip1 (low in area 17, high in area 18); (3) ex vivo up- and downmodulation of cyclin E and p27Kip1 show that both regulators influence cell cycle kinetics by modifying rates of cell cycle progression and cell cycle reentry; (4) modeling the areal differences in cell cycle parameters suggests that they contribute to areal differences in numbers of precursors and neuron production.

Thyroid hormone regulates hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult rat brain

We have examined the influence of thyroid hormone on adult hippocampal neurogenesis, which encompasses the proliferation, survival and differentiation of dentate granule cell progenitors. Using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), we demonstrate that adult-onset hypothyroidism significantly decreases hippocampal neurogenesis. This decline is predominantly the consequence of a significant decrease in the survival and neuronal differentiation of BrdU-positive cells. Both the decreased survival and neuronal differentiation of hippocampal progenitors could be rescued by restored euthyroid status. Adult-onset hyperthyroidism did not influence hippocampal neurogenesis, suggesting that the effects of thyroid hormone may be optimally permissive at euthyroid levels. Our in vivo and in vitro results revealed that adult hippocampal progenitors express thyroid receptor isoforms. The in vitro studies demonstrate that adult hippocampal progenitors exhibit enhanced proliferation, survival and glial differentiation in response to thyroid hormone. These results support a role for thyroid hormone in the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and raise the possibility that altered neurogenesis may contribute to the cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with adult-onset hypothyroidism.

Understanding the role of thyroid hormone in Sertoli cell development: a mechanistic hypothesis

More than a decade of research has shown that Sertoli cell proliferation is regulated by thyroid hormone. Neonatal hypothyroidism lengthens the period of Sertoli cell proliferation, leading to increases in Sertoli cell number, testis weight, and daily sperm production (DSP) when euthyroidism is re-established. In contrast, the neonatal Sertoli cell proliferative period is shortened under hyperthyroid conditions, but the mechanism by which thyroid hormone is able to negatively regulate Sertoli cell proliferation has been unclear. Recent progress in the understanding of the cell cycle has provided the opportunity to dissect the molecular targets responsible for thyroid-hormone-mediated effects on Sertoli cell proliferation. In this review, we discuss recent results indicating a critical role for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKI) p27(Kip1) and p21(Cip1) in establishing Sertoli cell number, testis weight, and DSP, and the ability of thyroid hormone to modulate these CDKIs. Based on these recent results, we propose a working hypothesis for the way in which thyroid hormone regulates the withdrawal of the cell cycle by controlling CDKI degradation. Finally, although Sertoli cells have been shown to have two biologically active thyroid hormone receptor (TR) isoforms, TRalpha1 and TRbeta1, experiments with transgenic mice lacking TRalpha or TRbeta illustrate that only one TR mediates thyroid hormone effects in neonatal Sertoli cells. Although significant gaps in our knowledge still remain, advances have been made toward appreciation of the molecular sequence of events that occur when thyroid hormone stimulates Sertoli cell maturation.

Regulation of vascular smooth muscle proliferation by heparin: inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity by p27(kip1)

Uncontrolled proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contribute to intimal hyperplasia during atherosclerosis and restenosis. Heparin is an antiproliferative agent for VSMCs and has been shown to block VSMC proliferation both in tissue culture systems and in animals. Despite the well documented antiproliferative actions of heparin, its cellular targets largely remain unknown. In an effort to characterize the mechanism of the antiproliferative property of heparin, we have analyzed the effect of heparin on cell cycle in VSMC. Our results indicate that the heparin-induced block in G(1) to S phase transition is imposed by p27(kip1)-mediated inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity. Further analysis of p27(kip1) mRNA levels showed that the increase in p27(kip1) protein levels in heparin-treated VSMC occurs at posttranscriptional levels. We present evidence that heparin causes stabilization of p27(kip1) protein during G(1) phase and thereby prevents activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2.

Unliganded thyroid hormone receptor beta1 inhibits proliferation of murine fibroblasts by delaying the onset of the G1 cell-cycle signals

Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are members of the ligand-inducible transcription factor superfamily. The two major functional TRs (alpha1 and beta1) have different spatial and temporal expression patterns and specific physiological functions for these isoforms are now starting to emerge. By expressing these TR isoforms individually in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, we found that TRbeta1 expression, in the absence of hormone, provokes a proliferation arrest in G0/G1, lengthening the cycling time. Upon serum stimulation TRbeta1-expressing cells showed a marked delay in the induction of cyclins D and E, in the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein, and in the activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2, accompanied by increased levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1. Accordingly, serum-stimulated E2F-1 transcriptional activity was repressed by TRbeta1 in transient transfection experiments. Analysis of the receptor domains required for this effect confirmed that there is no need for a functional ligand-binding domain while the DNA-binding domain is essential. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time that TRbeta1 participates in the molecular mechanisms that control cell proliferation. The unliganded TRbeta1 impairs the normal induction of the G1/S cycle regulators preventing progression into the S phase.

Thyroid hormone participates in the regulation of neural stem cells and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the central nervous system of adult rat

Oligodendrocyte development and myelination are under thyroid hormone control. In this study we analysed the effects of chronic manipulation of thyroid status on the expression of a wide spectrum of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) markers and myelin basic protein (MBP) in the subventricular zone (SVZ), olfactory bulb and optic nerve, and on neural stem cell (NSC) lineage in adult rats. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism were induced in male rats, by propyl-thio-uracil (PTU) and L-thyroxin (T4) treatment, respectively. Hypothyroidism increased and hyperthyroidism downregulated proliferation in the SVZ and olfactory bulb (Ki67 immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, bromodeoxyuridine uptake). Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFalpha-R) and MBP mRNA levels decreased in the optic nerve of hypothyroid rats; the same also occurred at the level of MBP protein. Hyperthyroidism slightly upregulates selected markers such as NG2 in the olfactory bulb. The lineage of cells derived from primary cultures of NSC prepared from the forebrain of adult hypo- and hyperthyroid also differs from those derived from control animals. Although no difference of in vitro proliferation of NSCs was observed in the presence of epidermal growth factor, maturation of oligodendrocytes (defined by process number and length) was enhanced in hyperthyroidism, suggesting a more mature state than in control animals. This difference was even greater when compared with the hypothyroid group, the morphology of which suggested a delay in differentiation. These results indicate that thyroid hormone affects NSC and OPC proliferation and maturation also in adulthood.

Protection of p27Kip1 mRNA by quaking RNA binding proteins promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation

The quaking (Qk) locus expresses a family of RNA binding proteins, and the expression of several alternatively spliced isoforms coincides with the development of oligodendrocytes and the onset of myelination. Quaking viable (Qk(v)) mice harboring an autosomal recessive mutation in this locus have uncompacted myelin in the central nervous system owing to the inability of oligodendrocytes to properly mature. Here we show that the expression of two QKI isoforms, absent from oligodendrocytes of Qk(v) mice, induces cell cycle arrest of primary rat oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and differentiation into oligodendrocytes. Injection of retroviruses expressing QKI into the telencephalon of mouse embryos induced differentiation and migration of multipotential neural progenitor cells into mature oligodendrocytes localized in the corpus callosum. The mRNA encoding the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-inhibitor p27(Kip1) was bound and stabilized by QKI, leading to an increased accumulation of p27(Kip1) protein in oligodendrocytes. Our findings demonstrate that QKI is upstream of p27(Kip1) during oligodendrocyte differentiation.