TY - JOUR
T1 - Different modifications of phosphorylated Smad3C and Smad3L through TGF-β after spinal cord injury in mice
AU - Joko, Masahiro
AU - Osuka, Koji
AU - Usuda, Nobuteru
AU - Atsuzawa, Kimie
AU - Aoyama, Masahiro
AU - Takayasu, Masakazu
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Hisae Inui for her technical assistance. This study was supported by a grant from the Aikeikai, Aichi Medical University, Japan .
Copyright:
Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2013/8/9
Y1 - 2013/8/9
N2 - Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine and is expressed in the injured spinal cord. TGF-β signals through receptors to activate Smad proteins, which translocate into the nucleus. In the present study, we investigated the chronological alterations and cellular locations of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway following spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. ELISA analysis showed that the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in injured spinal cords significantly increases immediately after SCI, while the concentration of TGF-β gradually increased after SCI, peaked at 2 days, and then gradually decreased. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that Smad3 was mainly expressed in neurons of the spinal cord. Phosphorylated Smad3 at the C-terminus (p-Smad3C) was stained within the motor neurons in the anterior horn, while phosphorylated Smad3 at the linker regions (p-Smad3L) was expressed in astrocytes within gray matter. These findings suggest that SCI induces gradual increases in TGF-β and induces different activation of p-Smad3C and p-Smad3L. Phosphorylated Smad3C might be involved in neuronal degeneration after SCI, and p-Smad3L may play a role in glial scar formation by astrocytes.
AB - Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine and is expressed in the injured spinal cord. TGF-β signals through receptors to activate Smad proteins, which translocate into the nucleus. In the present study, we investigated the chronological alterations and cellular locations of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway following spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. ELISA analysis showed that the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in injured spinal cords significantly increases immediately after SCI, while the concentration of TGF-β gradually increased after SCI, peaked at 2 days, and then gradually decreased. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that Smad3 was mainly expressed in neurons of the spinal cord. Phosphorylated Smad3 at the C-terminus (p-Smad3C) was stained within the motor neurons in the anterior horn, while phosphorylated Smad3 at the linker regions (p-Smad3L) was expressed in astrocytes within gray matter. These findings suggest that SCI induces gradual increases in TGF-β and induces different activation of p-Smad3C and p-Smad3L. Phosphorylated Smad3C might be involved in neuronal degeneration after SCI, and p-Smad3L may play a role in glial scar formation by astrocytes.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.05.042
DO - 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.05.042
M3 - Article
C2 - 23727390
AN - SCOPUS:84880745176
SN - 0304-3940
VL - 549
SP - 168
EP - 172
JO - Neuroscience Letters
JF - Neuroscience Letters
ER -