Quantification of mouse glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha 2 alternatively spliced isoforms by real time detection PCR using SYBR Green I

ClC-3 chloride channel in hippocampal neuronal apoptosis

Over-production of nitric oxide is pathogenic for neuronal apoptosis around the ischemic area fol-lowing ischemic brain injury. In this study, an apoptotic model in rat hippocampal neurons was tablished by 0.5 mmol/L 3-morpholinosyndnomine (SIN-1), a nitric oxide donor. The models were then cultured with 0.1 mmol/L of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS; the chloride channel blocker) for 18 hours. Neuronal survival was detected using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and apoptosis was assayed by Hoechst 33342-labeled neuronal DNA fluorescence staining. Western blot analysis and immunoche-nescence staining were applied to determine the changes of activated caspase-3 and CIC-3 channel proteins. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of CIC-3. The results showed that SIN-1 reduced the neuronal survival rate, induced neuronal apoptosis, and promoted ClC-3 chloride channel protein and mRNA expression in the apoptotic neurons. DIDS reversed the effect of SIN-1. Our findings indicate that the increased activities of the ClC-3 chloride channel may be involved in hippocampal neuronal apoptosis induced by nitric oxide.

Evidence for increased tissue androgen sensitivity in neurturin knockout mice

Neurturin (NTN) is a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family and signals through GDNF family receptor alpha 2 (GFRα2). We hypothesised that epithelial atrophy reported in the reproductive organs of Ntn (Nrtn)- and Gfrα2 (Gfra2)-deficient mice could be due to NTN affecting the hormonal environment. To investigate this, we compared the reproductive organs of Ntn- and Gfrα2-deficient male mice in parallel with an analysis of their circulating reproductive hormone levels. There were no significant structural changes within the organs of the knockout mice; however, serum and intratesticular testosterone and serum LH levels were very low. To reconcile these observations, we tested androgen sensitivity by creating a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) clamp (castration plus DHT implant) to create fixed circulating levels of androgens, allowing the evaluation of androgen-sensitive endpoints. At the same serum DHT levels, serum LH levels were lower and prostate and seminal vesicle weights were higher in the Ntn knockout (NTNKO) mice than in the wild-type mice, suggesting an increased response to androgens in the accessory glands and hypothalamus and pituitary of the NTNKO mice. Testicular and pituitary responsiveness was unaffected in the NTNKO males, as determined by the response to the human chorionic gonadotrophin or GNRH analogue, leuprolide, respectively. In conclusion, our results suggest that NTN inactivation enhances androgen sensitivity in reproductive and neuroendocrine tissues, revealing a novel mechanism to influence reproductive function and the activity of other androgen-dependent tissues.

Methods and platforms for the quantification of splice variants' expression

The relatively limited number of human protein encoding genes highlights the importance of the diversity generated at the level of the mRNA transcripts. As alternative RNA splicing plays a key role in mediating this diversity, it becomes critical to develop the tools and platforms that will deliver quantitative information on the specific expression levels associated with splice isoforms. This chapter describes the constraints generated by this global transcriptome analysis and the state-of-the-art techniques and products available to the scientific community.

Tissue expression of alternatively spliced GFRα1, NCAM and RET isoforms and the distinct functional consequence of ligand-induced activation of GFRα1 isoforms

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) exerts its effect through a multi-component receptor system consisting of GFRalpha1, RET and NCAM. Two highly homologous alternatively spliced GFRalpha1 isoforms (GFRalpha1a and GFRalpha1b) have previously been identified. In this study, isoform specific real-time PCR assays were used to quantify the expression levels of GFRalpha1, RET and NCAM isoforms in murine embryonic and adult tissues. The expression levels of GFRalpha1b were found to be comparable to that of GFRalpha1a in peripheral tissues. However, GFRalpha1a was the predominant isoform expressed in the whole brain. The co-expressions of GFRalpha1 and the co-receptors were developmentally regulated and differentially expressed in some tissues. Microarray analyses of GFRalpha1 isoforms transfected cells stimulated with NTN showed distinct and non-overlapping gene profiles. These observations are consistent with the emerging view that the combinatorial interactions of the spliced isoforms of GFRalpha, RET and NCAM may contribute to the pleiotropic biological responses.

Quantitative methods for the analysis of CFTR transcripts/splicing variants

In cystic fibrosis (CF), transcript analysis and quantification are important for diagnosis, prognosis and also as surrogate markers for some therapies including gene therapy. Classical RNA-based methods require significant expression levels in target samples for appropriate analysis, thus PCR-based methods are evolving towards reliable quantification. Various protocols for the quantitative analysis of CFTR transcripts (including those resulting from splicing variants) are described and discussed here.

Real time PCR quantification of GFRalpha-2 alternatively spliced isoforms in murine brain and peripheral tissues

The neurotrophic factor neurturin (NTN) is structurally related to the glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and has been shown to prevent the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons both in vitro and in vivo. The preferred receptor for NTN is the GDNF family receptor alpha 2 (GFRalpha-2). To date, three protein-coding alternatively spliced GFRalpha-2 isoforms (GFRalpha-2a, GFRalpha-2b, GFRalpha-2c) have been identified in mammalian tissues. An accurate quantification of the expression levels is necessary when determining the contributions of these isoforms to NTN signaling in tissues. In this report, sequence independent real time RT-PCR is used to determine the expression levels of GFRalpha-2 isoforms at different developmental stages of the murine embryos, and in various adult tissues. In the adult murine brain, GFRalpha-2a was found to be the most abundant, GFRalpha-2c was slightly less and GFRalpha-2b was 10-fold lower. The testis did not appear to express significant levels of GFRalpha-2a, 2b or 2c, compared to the brain. A novel finding in this study is that in some tissues, including the adult brain, the expression levels of GFRalpha-2, as quantified by the amplification of the 3' sequences encoding the putative glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor signal sequence, were significantly higher than the combined levels of GFRalpha-2a, GFRalpha-2b and GFRalpha-2c. This indicates the existence of yet to be identified forms of GFRalpha-2 in some tissues that may be of physiological significance.

Identification of GFR alpha-2 isoforms in myenteric plexus of postnatal and adult rat intestine

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-2 (GFR alpha-2) is a GPI-linked receptor that preferentially binds neurturin (NTN), a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family. Three splice isoforms of GFR alpha-2 have been identified previously in mouse tissues, but the occurrence of splice isoforms in rats has not been described. The aim of this study was therefore to identify GFR alpha-2 splice isoforms in rat tissues using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and gene cloning. Three isoforms were identified and sequenced, and named GFR alpha-2(a), (b) and (c), according to the nomenclature used for the previously identified mouse isoforms. The GFR alpha-2(a) and (b) isoforms were identical to those previously described in mice. The GFR alpha-2(c) isoform was novel. Sequences for GFR alpha-2(b) and (c) were deposited in the GenBank database (accession numbers GI: 16797788 and 16797786, respectively). All three isoforms were expressed in the brain, kidney, and intestine of both postnatal and adult rats.