| Abstract No.: | B-A2015 |
| Country: | Canada |
| | |
| Title: | NEOGENIN IS REQUIRED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OLFACTORY SENSORY NEURONS |
| | |
| Authors/Affiliations: | 1 David Mendes da Silva*; 1 Manon Lépine; 1 Émilie Dumontier; 1 Jean-François Cloutier;
1 MNI - McGill, Montreal, QC, Canada
|
| | |
| Content: | The olfactory epithelium (OE) is a useful model for studying regenerative processes in the nervous system, due to its lifelong ability to replenish a population of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) either ensuing their natural death or following experimental damage. Progenitor cells located in the basal region of the OE give rise to immature OSNs that become mature OSNs and start to express specific odorant receptors. Some soluble factors have been identified that regulate the proliferation and differentiation of olfactory progenitor cells. However, whether cellular interactions within the OE regulate OSN production is still unclear.
The transmembrane protein Neogenin is a receptor for members of the Netrin and Repulsive Guidance Molecule (RGM) families of proteins. Neogenin has been implicated in the control of a wide variety of processes during development including cellular differentiation and axonal guidance. We are investigating the role of Neogenin in the development of OSNs. We have shown that Neogenin and one of its ligands, RGMB, are expressed in the OE. Furthermore, knock-down of Neogenin protein expression in mouse leads to decreased numbers of mature OSNs in the OE. We are presently using an in vitro OE explants system to define the mechanism of action of Neogenin in OSN development. Taken together, our results suggest that Neogenin plays a critical role in OSN differentiation.
|
| | |
| Back |
|
