Pannexin 1 regulates postnatal neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation
Date
2012-03-29
Authors
Wicki-Stordeur, Leigh E.
Dzugalo, Adrian D.
Swansburg, Rose M.
Suits, Jocelyne M.
Swayne, Leigh Anne
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Pannexin 1 forms ion and metabolite permeable hexameric channels and is abundantly expressed in
the brain. After discovering pannexin 1 expression in postnatal neural stem and progenitor cells we sought to
elucidate its functional role in neuronal development.
Results: We detected pannexin 1 in neural stem and progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo. We manipulated pannexin
1 expression and activity in Neuro2a neuroblastoma cells and primary postnatal neurosphere cultures to
demonstrate that pannexin 1 regulates neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation likely through the release of
adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Conclusions: Permeable to ATP, a potent autocrine/paracine signaling metabolite, pannexin 1 channels are ideally
suited to influence the behavior of neural stem and progenitor cells. Here we demonstrate they play a robust role
in the regulation of neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation. Endogenous postnatal neural stem and progenitor
cells are crucial for normal brain health, and their numbers decline with age. Furthermore, these special cells are
highly responsive to neurological injury and disease, and are gaining attention as putative targets for brain repair.
Therefore, understanding the fundamental role of pannexin 1 channels in neural stem and progenitor cells is of
critical importance for brain health and disease.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Postnatal neurogenesis, Pannexin 1, Neural stem and progenitor cells, Cell proliferation, ATP release
Citation
Wicki-Stordeur et al.: Pannexin 1 regulates postnatal neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation. Neural Development 2012 7:11.