Impaired functions of neural stem cells by abnormal nitric oxide-mediated signaling in an in vitro model of Niemann-Pick type C disease

• 来源期刊: 细胞研究（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2008,（6）
• 页码范围: 686-694
• 页数: 9页
• 语种: 英文

摘要

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the promotion of neurodegeneration.However,little is known about the relationship between NO and the self-renewal or differentiation capacity of neural stem cells (NSCs) in neurodegenerative disease.In this study,we investigated the effect of NO on self-renewal of NSCs in an animal model for Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease.We found that NO production was significantly increased in NSCs from NPC1-deficient mice (NPC1-/-),which showed reduced NSC self-renewal.The number of nestin-positive cells and the size of neurospheres were both significantly decreased.The expression of NO synthase (NOS) was increased in neurospheres derived from the brain of NPC1-/- mice in comparison to wild-type neurospheres.NO-mediated activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK3β) and caspase-3 was also observed in NSCs from NPC1-/- mice.The self-renewal ability of NSCs from NPC1-/- mice was restored by an NOS inhibitor,L-NAME,which resulted in the inhibition of GSK3β and caspase-3.In addition,the differentiation ability of NSCs was partially restored and the number of Fluoro-Jade C-positive degenerating neurons was reduced.These data suggest that overproduction of NO in NPC disease impaired the self-renewal of NSCs.Control of NO production may be key for the treatment of NPC disease.