Ascl1 Regulates Electric Field-Induced Neuronal Differentiation Through PI3K/Akt Pathway. (15th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Zhi-yong; Pei, Zhe; Wang, Yan-ling; Li, Zhe; Khan, Amber; Meng, Xiao-ting
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 404(2019)
• Page Start: 141
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2019-04-15
• Subjects: Akt protein kinase B -- Ascl1 Achaete-scute homolog 1 -- bHLH basic helix–loop–helix -- bFGF basic fibroblast growth factors -- CNS central nervous system -- DIV days in vitro -- EFs electric fields -- EGF epidermal growth factors -- GFAP glial fibrillary acidic protein -- GO gene onsite analysis -- LGE lateral ganglionic eminences -- MGE medial ganglionic eminences -- MAP2 microtubule associate protein 2 -- NSCs/NPCs neural stem/progenitor cells -- PI3K phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Ascl1 -- electric fields -- neural progenitor cells -- neuronal differentiation -- PI3K/Akt; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.02.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Abstract: Directing differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) to produce functional neurons is one of the greatest challenges in regenerative medicine. Our previous paper has confirmed that electrical stimulation has a high efficiency of triggering neuronal differentiation by using isolated filum terminale (FT)-derived NPCs. To further clarify the intrinsic molecular mechanisms, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was applied to pinpoints novel hubs in electric field (EF)-induced neuronal differentiation. In this study, siRNA transfection of Achaete-scute homolog 1 (Ascl1) in NPCs or NPCs was followed by direct current stimulation at 150 mV/mm. Neuronal differentiation rate and protein expression level were analyzed after 7 or 14 days of electrical stimulation. The data showed that the expression level of Ascl1 was enhanced by electrical stimulation and positively correlated to EF strength. Moreover, we identified that the expression of Ascl1 positively regulated neuronal differentiation of NPCs and can be up-regulated by EF-stimulation through the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the role of Ascl1 and its relevant PI3K/Akt pathway in regulating of EF-induced neuronal differentiation and pointed out that continuous expression of Ascl1 in NPCs is required for EF-induced neuronal differentiation. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: EF-induced neuronal differentiation correlated with Ascl1 expression level positively. Continuous expression of Ascl1 in NPCs is necessary for EF-induced neuronal differentiation. Ascl1 regulates EF-induced neuronal differentiation through PI3K/Akt pathway.