NeuN As a Neuronal Nuclear Antigen and Neuron Differentiation Marker

Abstract

The NeuN protein is localized in nuclei and perinuclear cytoplasm of most of the neurons in the central nervous system of mammals. Monoclonal antibodies to the NeuN protein have been actively used in the immunohistochemical research of neuronal differentiation to assess the functional state of neurons in norm and pathology for more than 20 years. Recently, NeuN antibodies have begun to be applied in the differential morphological diagnosis of cancer. However, the structure of the protein, which can be revealed by antibodies to NeuN, remained unknown until recently, and the functions of the protein are still not fully clear. In the present mini-review, data on NeuN accumulated so far are summarized and analyzed. Data on the structure and properties of the protein, its isoforms, intracellular localization, and hypothesized functions are reported. The application field of immunocytochemical detection of NeuN in scientific and clinical studies, as well as the difficulties in the interpretation of the obtained experimental data and their possible causes, is described in details.

Polyglutamine-Expanded Huntingtin Exacerbates Age-Related Disruption of Nuclear Integrity and Nucleocytoplasmic Transport

“…We first tested whether wild-type mice with 7 glutamines (Q) in both endogenous Htt alleles ( Htt Q7/Q7 ) develop age-dependent nuclear envelope defects in cortex and striatum, two HD-vulnerable brain regions in which >80% of the cells are neurons detectable with the neuron-specific marker Neuronal Nuclear Antigen (NeuN) (Gusel’nikova and Korzhevskiy, 2015) (Figure S1A). For this, we followed lamin B1, a structural component of the nuclear lamina, as a marker of the nuclear envelope shape and an initial test of nuclear integrity.…”

Toxoplasma gondii inhibits differentiation of C17.2 neural stem cells through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

“…The data showed the mRNA level of bIII-tubulin in C17.2 neural stem cells when cultured in DMEM:F12 supplemented with 2% N2 was significantly higher than that cultured in DMEM complete medium and serum-free DMEM culture medium on day 5 [22]. The GFAP and bIII-tubulin been widely recognized as differentiation markers for astrocytes and neurons, respectively [23]. In the present study, we detected the protein expression of bIII-tubulin and GFAP by immunofluorescence staining (Fig.…”

Central Neurocytoma: A Review of Clinical Management and Histopathologic Features

“…Positive staining for NeuN suggests the neuronal nature of neoplasms and is considered to be a reliable marker for clear cell neoplasms of the central nervous system, which include CN, oligodendroglioma, and clear cell ependymoma [48889]. It has also been reported that positive staining for NeuN correlates with a lower proliferation index [490].…”