| First Author | Besser M | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Dev Biol | Volume | 369 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 163-76 |
| PubMed ID | 22691363 | Mgi Jnum | J:187511 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5437373 | Doi | 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.05.020 |
| Citation | Besser M, et al. (2012) Tenascin C regulates proliferation and differentiation processes during embryonic retinogenesis and modulates the de-differentiation capacity of Muller glia by influencing growth factor responsiveness and the extracellular matrix compartment. Dev Biol 369(2):163-76 |
| abstractText | The retina represents an ideal model system for studying developmental processes during morphogenesis. The knowledge of the precise regulation and combination of genetic pre-dispositions and environmental circumstances enables the understanding of pathologies and the subsequent development or/and improvement of therapeutic strategies. This study focused on the functional analysis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) molecule Tenascin C (Tnc) in the retinal stem/progenitor cell environment. In this perspective, a Tnc(-/-) mouse was examined for potential alterations in proliferation and differentiation programs by using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR analysis and bioassays. It could be shown that both cycling G2-phase cells and early post-mitotic neurons were significantly increased in the retina due to Tnc-deficiency. Further investigations suggested that Tnc regulates these processes via the Wnt-signaling cascade. Therapeutic approaches in the treatment of degenerative diseases often integrate cell-replacement strategies. Retinal Muller glia cells represent the glia of the retina and are described to possess the ability to re-enter the cell cycle and generate neurons in response to injury. In this study, the de-differentiation was induced by FGF2. It was found out that Tnc influences the de-differentiation behavior of adherent Muller glia in vitro. Moreover, it was interesting to investigate the effect of the absence of Tnc on the composition of other components of the ECM. A special focus lay on the expression of a specifically sulfated carbohydrate motif on chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains, which can be detected with the mAb 473HD. It was possible to note a significant increase of this particular chondroitin sulfate in the Tnc-deficient ECM. |
