Distinct ontogenic and regional expressions of newly identified Cajal-Retzius cell-specific genes during neocorticogenesis

Abstract

Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are early-generated transient neurons and are important in the regulation of cortical neuronal migration and cortical laminar formation. Molecular entities characterizing the CR cell identity, however, remain largely elusive. We purified mouse cortical CR cells expressing GFP to homogeneity by fluorescenceactivated cell sorting and examined a genomewide expression profile of cortical CR cells at embryonic and postnatal periods. We identified 49 genes that exceeded hybridization signals by >10-fold in CR cells compared with non-CR cells at embryonic day 13.5, postnatal day 2, or both. Among these CR cell-specific genes, 25 genes, including the CR cell marker genes such as the reelin and calretinin genes, are selectively and highly expressed in both embryonic and postnatal CR cells. These genes, which encode generic properties of CR cell specificity, are eminently characterized as modulatory composites of voltage-dependent calcium channels and sets of functionally related cellular components involved in cell migration, adhesion, and neurite extension. Five genes are highly expressed in CR cells at the early embryonic period and are rapidly down-regulated thereafter. Furthermore, some of these genes have been shown to mark two distinctly different focal regions corresponding to the CR cell origins. At the late prenatal and postnatal periods, 19 genes are selectively up-regulated in CR cells. These genes include functional molecules implicated in synaptic transmission and modulation. CR cells thus strikingly change their cellular phenotypes during cortical development and play a pivotal role in both corticogenesis and cortical circuit maturation.

CXC chemokine receptor 4 regulates neuronal migration and axonal pathfinding in the developing nervous system: implications for neuronal regeneration in the adult brain

“…CXCR4 is highly expressed in Cajal-Retzius cells (Stumm et al 2003, Tissir et al 2004, Yamazaki et al 2004, Borrell & Marin 2006, Paredes et al 2006. The presence of SDF-1 in the meninges covering the cortex (Tham et al 2001) suggests a paracrine SDF-1/CXCR4-mediated influence of mesenchymal meningeal cells on Cajal-Retzius cells.…”

The Etv1/Er81 transcription factor orchestrates activity-dependent gene regulation in the terminal maturation program of cerebellar granule cells

“…GAPDH mRNA was used as an internal control for normalization of mRNA levels. Total RNA of FACS-purified granule cells was subjected to quantitative PCR analysis as described previously (33). For morphological characterization, GFP fluorescence and immunostained markers were visualized by confocal imaging (6).…”

“…The in-tandem shRNA oligo DNA then was transferred downstream of the GFP gene of the pCAGGS-GFP vector (6). GFP + /PI − and GFP − /PI − cells were isolated from the PD 21 cerebellum and purified by FACS as described previously (33).…”

A pivotal role of calcineurin signaling in development and maturation of postnatal cerebellar granule cells

“…Total RNA was isolated from cultured granule cells and cerebella and subjected to quantitative PCR as described (15). All reactions were performed in duplicate, and the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA and acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein mRNA were used as internal controls for mRNA quantification of cerebella and cultured cells, respectively.…”

“…cDNA synthesis, cRNA labeling, hybridization, and scanning were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Microarray experiments were performed twice for each comparison, and the data were averaged and analyzed as described (15). The following two criteria were used to select candidate genes.…”