Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Calbindin 2”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 919 records · Page 51Linked to original sources

Calretinin is transiently expressed in tendon fibroblasts of the paravertebral region of the chick embryo.

Although calretinin is an intracellular calcium acceptor protein essentially located in neurons, we have previously shown that calretinin was also expressed in the mesenchymal cells forming the intervertebral disc. Here, we describe, using immunohistochemistry, the transient expression of calretinin in fibroblasts responsible for the tendon formation in the paravertebral region. We have looked at chick embryos from embryonic day 4 to day 18. At embryonic day 6, calretinin immunoreactivity was detected in chick embryo cells located laterally to the spinal cord between two groups of developing muscular cells. At embryonic day 8, calretinin immunoreactivity intensity was the highest in cells showing a fibroblast morphology. After embryonic day 8, when fibroblast proliferation decreased and differentiation increased, calretinin immunoreactivity progressively disappeared. Interestingly, calretinin could not be detected in fibroblasts of the anterior and posterior limbs at any investigated age. Because calretinin expression appeared selectively and transiently in the fibroblasts of the paravertebral region, we may conclude that the phenotype of those fibroblasts is different from the limbs fibroblasts.

Animals↗

Glycogen-rich mesothelioma.

A glycogen-rich epithelial mesothelioma is described. This variant is uncommon, but important to recognize since it is readily confused on routine light microscopy with other clear cell tumors involving the pleura. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies can be helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis. Significant recent advances in the immunohistochemistry of epithelial mesothelioma are briefly reviewed.

Aged↗

Expression of calretinin by fetal otocyst cells after transplantation into damaged rat utricle explants.

Severe damage by acoustic overstimulation or ototoxins induces inner ear hair cell loss, resulting in permanent hearing loss and balance disorders because hair cell regeneration scarcely occurs in the inner ear sensory organs of mammals. In this study, to evaluate the possibilities of cell transplantation therapy for damaged inner ear sensory organs, dissociated cell cultures of fetal otocyst cells (FOCs) were established from embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) rat inner ears, and transplanted into gentamicin-treated explants of vestibular sensory epithelia. Two weeks after transplantation, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that some of the grafted FOCs survived within the vestibular sensory epithelia and expressed epitopes of calretinin. one of the hair cell marker proteins. These findings indicate that FOCs have the potential to migrate into damaged vestibular epithelia and differentiate into hair cell immunophenotypes. Cell transplantation therapy may be available for functional regeneration in inner ear diseases.

Animals↗

Choline availability during embryonic development alters the localization of calretinin in developing and aging mouse hippocampus.

Choline availability in the diet during pregnancy alters fetal brain biochemistry with resulting behavioral changes that persist throughout the lifetime of the offspring. In the present study, the effects of dietary choline on the onset of GABAergic neuronal differentiation in developing fetal brain, as demarcated by the expression of calcium binding protein calretinin, are described. In these studies, timed-pregnant mice were fed choline supplemented, control or choline deficient AIN-76 diet from day 12-17 of pregnancy and the brains of their fetuses were studied on day 17 of gestation. In the primordial dentate gyrus, we found that pups from choline deficient-dams had more calretinin protein (330% increase), and pups from choline supplemented-dams had less calretinin protein (70% decrease), than did pups from control-dams. Importantly, decreased calretinin protein was still detectable in hippocampus in aged, 24-month-old mice, born of choline supplemented-dams and maintained since birth on a control diet. Thus, alterations in the level of calretinin protein in fetal brain hippocampus could underlie the known, life long effects of maternal dietary choline availability on brain development and behavior.

Aging↗

'New' functions for 'old' proteins: the role of the calcium-binding proteins calbindin D-28k, calretinin and parvalbumin, in cerebellar physiology. Studies with knockout mice.

Calretinin (CR), calbindin D-28k (CB) and parvalbumin (PV) belong to the large family of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins, which comprises more than 200 members in man. Structurally these proteins are characterized by the presence of a variable number of evolutionary well-conserved helix-loop-helix motives, which bind Ca2+ ions with high affinity. Functionally, they fall into two groups: by interaction with target proteins, calcium sensors translate calcium concentrations into signaling cascades, whereas calcium buffers are thought to modify the spatiotemporal aspects of calcium transients. Although CR, CB and PV are currently being considered calcium buffers, this may change as we learn more about their biology. Remarkable differences in their biophysical properties have led to the distinction of fast and slow buffers and suggested functional specificity of individual calcium buffers. Evaluation of the physiological roles of CR, CB and PV has been facilitated by the recent generation of mouse strains deficient in these proteins. Here, we review the biology of these calcium-binding proteins with distinct reference to the cerebellum, since they are particularly enriched in specific cerebellar neurons. CR is principally expressed in granule cells and their parallel fibres, while PV and CB are present throughout the axon, soma, dendrites and spines of Purkinje cells. PV is additionally found in a subpopulation of inhibitory interneurons, the stellate and basket cells. Studies on deficient mice together with in vitro work and their unique cell type-specific distribution in the cerebellum suggest that these calcium-binding proteins have evolved as functionally distinct, physiologically relevant modulators of intracellular calcium transients. Analysis of different brain regions suggests that these proteins are involved in regulating calcium pools critical for synaptic plasticity. Surprisingly, a major role of any of these three calcium-binding proteins as an endogenous neuroprotectant is not generally supported.

Animals↗

Unraveling the cerebellar cortex: cytology and cellular physiology of large-sized interneurons in the granular layer.

Neuronal network behaviors emerge from complex interactions between excitatory relay cells, principal cells and inhibitory interneurons. Therefore, characterizing homogeneous cell types and their properties is an essential step towards understanding information processing in the brain. The cerebellar cortex is generally described as a repetitive circuit composed of only five cell types. However, recent studies have revealed an unexpected diversity in the morphological, neurochemical and electrophysiological properties of the large-sized granular layer interneurons. These data are reviewed here with an emphasis on the synaptic interactions of the different cell types within the cerebellar cortex. The existence of a complex network of excitatory and inhibitory interneurons controlling the spatial and temporal pattern of granule cell firing is documented, providing insights into the cellular and synaptic processes underlying oscillations and synchronization in the cerebellar cortex.

Animals↗

Calretinin: a gene for a novel calcium-binding protein expressed principally in neurons.

A novel gene of the calmodulin superfamily, encoding a 29-kD neuronal protein here named "calretinin," has been isolated as a cDNA clone from chick retina. The encoded sequence includes four putative calcium-binding sites and a fusion protein binds calcium. The most similar protein known is the 28-kD intestinal calcium-binding protein, calbindin (58% homology). Both genes date from before the divergence of chicks from mammals. The distribution of calretinin and calbindin mRNAs in chick tissues has been mapped using RNA gel blots and in situ hybridization. RNAs from both genes are abundant in the retina and in many areas of the brain, but calretinin RNA is absent from intestine and other nonneural tissues. Calretinin and calbindin are expressed in different sets of neurons throughout the brain. Calretinin RNA is particularly abundant in auditory neurons with precisely timed discharges.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cellular reactivity to mechanical axonal injury in an organotypic in vitro model of neurotrauma.

An in vitro model of traumatic brain injury is described that is based on organotypic cocultures (OTCs) of rat neocortex and thalamus connected by reciprocal axonal projections. Localized mechanical compression of this projection was inflicted with a mechanical device, and the effects on cell viability, axonal morphology, and protein expression levels were analyzed. Within 24 h after insult, major cell damage occurred in infragranular cortical layers containing the corticothalamic projection neurons and in thalamic regions adjacent to the mechanical impact as was assessed through the use of the vital stain Syto 21, and propidium iodide labeling. A small, but significant number of calretinin-positive interneurons in cortical and thalamic areas displayed symptoms of injury. Axonal elements, as revealed by neurofilament (NF-H/M) immunohistochemistry, in the corticothalamic transition zone displayed pathomorphological changes, such as axonal bulbs and swellings, already 4 h after insult. Densitometric analysis revealed that MAP-2a,b expression was not significantly changed within 4 h after injury. A significant reduction in MAP-2a,b amount was evident at 20 h after injury in thalamus (by 31.6%) and cortex (by 30%) maintained for 12 days in vitro (DIV), but not in OTCs aged 20 DIV. The axonally localized form MAP-2c significantly increased in cortex of 12-DIV OTCs at 4 and 20 h after insult (65.6% and 33.4%, respectively). MAP-2c levels in cortex of 20 DIV initially increased by 47.7% and declined below control values 20 h after injury. Thalamic areas revealed a delay in MAP-2c reactivity, in that expression was significantly elevated only at 20 h after injury (by 84.4% in 12-DIV and by 39.6% in 20-DIV OTCs, respectively). These data may reflect the regenerative ability of juvenile, but not of older neurons in response to mechanical axonal injury.

Animals↗

Persistent reelin-expressing Cajal-Retzius cells in polymicrogyria.

Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are early-developing cells important in mammalian corticogenesis. Reelin, a protein secreted by CR cells, is essential for completion of neuronal migration and cortical lamination. Lack of reelin causes the 'reeler' phenotype in mice and autosomal recessive lissencephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia in man. Focal increases in reelin and CR cells are associated with thickening and local invaginations of the marginal zone and microgyria in animal studies. It has been suggested that abnormalities of reelin expression may be involved in human polymicrogyria. We have studied CR cells and reelin expression in pathological sections of human polymicrogyria to explore this possibility. Occurrence, distribution, morphology and reelin expression in CR cells were studied in 12 cases of human polymicrogyria, ranging from 21 gestational weeks to 10 years of age. Findings were compared with age-matched controls. Large, reelin-positive CR-like cells were more numerous in the majority of the polymicrogyria cases and persisted for longer than usual, up to 10 years of age. The CR-like cells tended to cluster and were most frequent in fused molecular layers in the polymicrogyria. Reelin-expressing CR-like cells were also found in bridges between the molecular layer and overlying leptomeningeal heterotopia and within the heterotopia itself. Clusters of CR-like cells were also found in adjacent non-polymicrogyric cortex. No clusters were seen in the control subjects. Increased numbers of CR-like cells were seen in both familial and acquired cases. In contrast to previous reports, the findings show that large CR-like cells persisted for longer than usual, up to 10 years of age, and that they may continue to express reelin. Their maximal aggregation in regions of polymicrogyria and overlying leptomeningeal heterotopia suggest an association between the presence of these cells and polymicrogyria, which we interpret in the light of recent findings concerning the roles of reelin and its downstream signalling pathway in neuronal and glial developmental dynamics and post-developmental function.

Aging↗

Early-generated preplate neurons in the developing telencephalon: inward migration into the developing striatum.

Specialized subsets of early-generated neurons provide the cellular cues that are necessary for the establishment of characteristic cell and fiber interactions in each brain region. During the development of the mammalian cerebral cortex, the early-generated cells line up in the most superficial part of the telencephalic pallium forming the preplate. It has been generally thought that the preplate derivatives are exclusively located in the cortical region and govern the early histogenetic phase of cortical development. However, we here disclose an unexpected evidence that a subset of early-generated neurons of the piriform preplate migrate inward into and disperse within the subcortical structure striatum during the embryonic stage. Their migratory route is unique and its direction is opposite to the ordinary migration of neuronal precursors directed outward from the periventricular germinal zone. After immigrating into the developing striatum, these early-generated cells are closely associated with the intrastriatal fascicules of axons. The majority of these cells are eliminated by apoptotic cell death during the early postnatal stage. Based on these findings, we propose a new concept: the preplate neurons may not only direct cortical histogenesis but also change their location to play a role in the development of subcortical structures.

Animals↗

Selective expression of doublecortin and LIS1 in developing human cortex suggests unique modes of neuronal movement.

The genes doublecortin (DCX) and LIS1 are required for proper cortical neuronal migration and differentiation in humans. Here, we study the expression pattern of the encoded proteins of these genes in developing human brain. LIS1 stained virtually all migrating neurons throughout periods of development. Initially, DCX extensively overlapped with Reelin in early preplate stage in radially oriented columns of cells in the ventricular zone, whereas at later stages, the majority of DCX-positive cells were horizontally oriented. During the cortical plate stage, two opposite patterns of DCX expression were found: in radially oriented apical processes, presumably of pyramidal cells in the cortical plate, and in non-radially oriented mono- or bipolar neurons with migratory morphologies in the deep compartments of the cerebral wall. The extensive co-localization of DCX and Calretinin in non-radially oriented neurons suggested a non-pyramidal phenotype. These cells assumed a more vertical orientation upon entering the subplate. In addition, DCX was expressed by cells in the subpial granular layer and by Cajal-Retzius cells. In a 19 week human fetal cortex with a LIS1 mutation, the number of Reelin-expressing Cajal-Retzius cells was reduced and their morphology was abnormal. DCX was expressed by cells in all regions, but in extremely low numbers, suggesting that LIS1 deficiency adversely affects the migration and differentiation of DCX- and Reelin-positive neurons.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Cortical interneuron fate determination: diverse sources for distinct subtypes?

GABAergic interneurons perform crucial roles in cortical development and function. These roles are executed by a diversity of interneuron subtypes, and abnormal function of particular subtypes has been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases. However, little is known about the mechanisms that generate interneuron diversity. This paper discusses the potential origins of interneuron subtypes. Evidence is reviewed that suggests bipolar calretinin expressing interneurons may have distinct origins from those that express parvalbumin or somatostatin. In addition, evidence is presented that migratory cells from the subcortical subventricular zone (SVZ) do not proliferate after migration into the cortical SVZ.

Animals↗

Glutamate-like immunoreactivity and fate of Cajal-Retzius cells in the murine cortex as identified with calretinin antibody.

Cortical layers VI to II develop between two layers of older neurons, the marginal and subplate zones, which are believed to have unique roles in cortical development. While subplate cells have been found essential for the establishment of thalamocortical relationships, the function of the marginal zone and in particular of the neurons of Cajal-Retzius has not been elucidated. Here we show that an antibody against the calcium-binding protein calretinin labels the population of Cajal-Retzius cells throughout their life in the murine cerebral cortex. In prenatal and early postnatal stages, Cajal-Retzius cells were found evenly distributed throughout the murine cerebral cortex. Cajal-Retzius-like neurons were also found in the developing hippocampus and dentate gyrus, which indicates that they may have a general function in cortical development. From P8 onward Cajal-Retzius cells disappeared from the neocortex and hippocampus, at the same time as degenerating immunoreactive neurons were observed. Calretinin-positive Cajal-Retzius cells were glutamate immunoreactive and their presumed axon terminals formed asymmetric synapses. These observations indicate that Cajal-Retzius cells may provide a tonic excitatory input, essential for the maturation of cortical neurons. Furthermore, since neuronal migration has been shown to be dependent on glutamate receptors, we propose that Cajal-Retzius cells releasing glutamate may direct migrating neuroblasts toward the marginal lamina, therefore creating the "inside-out" sequence of cortical development.

Animals↗

Calretinin-immunoreactivity during postnatal development of the rat isocortex: a qualitative and quantitative study.

Postnatal development of the rat cortex is characterized by the gradual development of many calcium-dependent processes which demand a precise control of the intracellular levels of this cation; when the balance is disturbed, neuronal death ultimately ensues. Calretinin (CR), a calcium-binding protein, has been postulated to have neuroprotective capacity by buffering intracellular calcium. This putative relationship between CR and neuroprotection is still, however, a controversial issue. With a view to shedding further light on this subject, we studied the temporal and spatial distribution of CR in five different regions (the frontal- sensorimotor-, parietal-, temporal- and occipital region) of the rat cortex during postnatal development. Qualitative and quantitative immunocytochemistry of newborn, 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-day-old and adult rats revealed a profound increase in the density of the CR-positive neurons during the first two postnatal weeks in all regions examined. At the end of this period, CR-immunoreactive cells decreased sharply to adult levels. Cell classes exhibiting transient CR-immunoreactivity during the first two postnatal weeks included cells in layer I (amongst which were Cajal-Retzius cells), the subplate and pyramidal-like cells in the upper portion of layer V, most of them in the motor cortices. The above-described dynamics of CR expression were reflected also in the biochemical analysis performed (immunoblotting, ELISA). The temporal and spatial correlation with calcium-dependent events such as synaptogenesis, neurite elongation and remodelling in further support the contention that CR may play a neuroprotective role during postnatal development of the rat cortex.

Aging↗

Connectivity of GABAergic calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in rat primary visual cortex.

In rat visual cortex neurons that are immunoreactive for the calcium-binding protein calretinin (CR+) constitute a distinct family which accounts for 17% of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-expressing cells. It is not clear, however, (i) whether CR is expressed exclusively in GABAergic neurons and (ii) how CR+ neurons are incorporated into neuronal circuits of rat visual cortex. To address these questions we studied synaptic relationships of CR+ neurons with GABA+ and GABA- elements in the neuropil of rat primary visual cortex (area 17). All CR+ neurons are nonpyramidal cells with smooth or sparsely spiny and often beaded dendrites. Of all CR+ neurons, 56% are located in layers 1 and 2/3. In layer 2/3, most CR+ neurons are bipolar-shaped and have vertically oriented dendrites. Many ascending dendritic branches reach layer 1 where they run parallel to pial surface. CR+ axons are thin, highly branched near the cell body and often send descending collaterals to layers 5 and 6. Double immunofluorescence labeling revealed GABA in 94% of CR+ cell bodies in layer 2/3. Electron microscopic analysis shows that all CR+ axon terminals contain elongated vesicles and form symmetric synapses. Postembedding staining shows that 98% of CR+ terminals are GABA+. GABA-immunoreactivity is also present in somata and thick dendrites of CR+ neurons but many thin dendrites are GABA-. CR+ somata, dendrites and axon terminals are enriched in mitochondria. Somata and thick CR+ dendrites are densely innervated. At least 68% of the targets of CR+ terminals in layer 2/3 are GABA+ and > or = 50% of these are other CR+ neurons. The remainder (32%) of targets of CR+ terminals are thin dendrites of GABA- cells. In contrast, in layers 5 and 6, 60% of CR+ terminals form synapses with GABA- somatic profiles. The preferential interactions of layer 2/3 CR+ neurons with GABAergic neurons, and with CR+ neurons in particular, suggests that these cells play a role in the inhibition of inhibitory neurons of the same layer. Through these interactions CR+ cells may reduce inhibition of pyramidal cells in layers 2/3, 5 and 6 and thus disinhibit a column of neurons.

Animals↗

Folic acid deficiency during late gestation decreases progenitor cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in fetal mouse brain.

In mice and rats, maternal dietary choline intake during late pregnancy modulates mitosis and apoptosis in progenitor cells of the fetal hippocampus and septum. Because choline and folate are interrelated metabolically, we investigated the effects of maternal dietary folate availability on progenitor cells in fetal mouse telencephalon. Timed-pregnant mice were fed a folate-supplemented (FS), control (FCT) or folate-deficient (FD) AIN-76 diet from d 11-17 of pregnancy. FD decreased the number of progenitor cells undergoing cell replication in the ventricular zones of the developing mouse brain septum (46.6% of FCT), caudate putamen (43.5%), and neocortex (54.4%) as assessed using phosphorylated histone H3 (a specific marker of mitotic phase) and confirmed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling of the S phase. In addition, 106.2% more apoptotic cells were found in FD than in FCT fetal septum. We observed 46.8% more calretinin-positive cells in the medial septal-diagonal band region of FD compared with pups from control dams. FS mice did not differ significantly from FCT mice in any of these measures. These results suggest that progenitor cells in fetal forebrain are sensitive to maternal dietary folate during late gestation.

Animals↗

Cytoarchitectural abnormalities in hippocampal sclerosis.

Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is the most common pathological substrate for temporal lobe epilepsy with a characteristic pattern of loss of principle neurons primarily in CA1 and hilar subfields. Other cytoarchitectural abnormalities have been identified in human HS specimens, including dispersion of dentate granule cells and cytoskeletal abnormalities in residual hilar cells. The incidence of these features, their relationship to the severity of HS and potential indication of underlying hippocampal maldevelopment is unverified. In a series of 183 hippocampectomies we identified classical HS (grades 3 and 4) in 90% of specimens, granule cell disorganization or severe dispersion in 40% of cases with a bilaminar pattern in 10%, and cytoskeletal abnormalities in hilar cells in 55% of cases. The severity of granule cell disorganization correlated closely with the degree of hippocampal neuronal loss but not with the age at first seizure or a history of a precipitating event for epilepsy such as prolonged febrile seizures. These findings suggest that granule cell disorganization is closely linked with the progression of HS rather than a hallmark of impaired hippocampal maturation. Furthermore, stereological quantitation of granule cells showed evidence of cell loss but greater numbers in regions of maximal dispersion, which may indicate enhanced neurogenesis of these cells. Quantitation of reelin-and calretinin-positive Cajal-Retzius cells in the dentate gyrus molecular layer in 26 cases showed no correlation between the number of these cells and the severity of granule cell dispersion, but increased numbers of these cells were present in HS with respect to control groups. Although a role for Cajal-Retzius cells is therefore not implicated in the mechanism of granule cell disorganization, their excess number may be indicative of underlying hippocampal maldevelopment in HS.

Adolescent↗

Design and specificity of hammerhead ribozymes against calretinin mRNA.

We obtained a partial sequence of mouse calretinin mRNA from cDNA clones, and designed hammerhead ribozymes to cleave positions within it. With a view to optimising hammerhead ribozymes for eliminating the mRNA in vivo, we varied the length and sequence of the three duplex 'arms' and measured the cleavage of long RNA substrates in vitro at 37 degrees C (as well as 50 degrees C). Precise cleavage occurred, but it could only go to completion with a large excess of ribozyme. The evidence suggests that the rate-limiting step with a large target is not the cleavage, but the formation of the active ribozyme: substrate complex. The efficiency varied unpredictably according to the target site, the length of the substrate RNA, and the length of the ribozyme; secondary structure in vitro may be responsible. We particularly investigated the degree of sequence-specificity. Some mismatches could be tolerated, but shortening of the total basepairing with the substrate to less than 14 bp drastically reduced activity, implying that interaction with weakly-matched RNAs is unlikely to be a serious problem in vivo. These results suggest that specific and complete cleavage of a mRNA in vivo should be possible, given high-level expression of a ribozyme against a favourable target site.

Animals↗