1. Academic Validation
  2. Sonic Hedgehog Promotes Neurite Outgrowth of Primary Cortical Neurons Through Up-Regulating BDNF Expression

Sonic Hedgehog Promotes Neurite Outgrowth of Primary Cortical Neurons Through Up-Regulating BDNF Expression

  • Neurochem Res. 2016 Apr;41(4):687-95. doi: 10.1007/s11064-015-1736-5.
Weiliang He 1 2 3 4 Lili Cui 1 2 3 4 Cong Zhang 1 2 3 4 Xiangjian Zhang 5 6 7 8 Junna He 1 2 3 4 Yanzhao Xie 1 2 3 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
  • 2 Hebei Key Laboratory for Neurology, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
  • 3 Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
  • 4 Hebei Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
  • 5 Department of Neurology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China. zhang66xj@126.com.
  • 6 Hebei Key Laboratory for Neurology, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China. zhang66xj@126.com.
  • 7 Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China. zhang66xj@126.com.
  • 8 Hebei Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China. zhang66xj@126.com.
Abstract

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), a secreted glycoprotein factor, can activate the Shh pathway, which has been implicated in neuronal polarization involving neurite outgrowth. However, little evidence is available about the effect of Shh on neurite outgrowth in primary cortical neurons and its potential mechanism. Here, we revealed that Shh increased neurite outgrowth in primary cortical neurons, while the Shh pathway inhibitor (cyclopamine, CPM) partially suppressed Shh-induced neurite outgrowth. Similar results were found for the expressions of Shh and Patched genes in Shh-induced primary cortical neurons. Moreover, Shh increased the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) not only in lysates and in culture medium but also in the longest neurites of primary cortical neurons, which was partially blocked by CPM. In addition, blocking of BDNF action suppressed Shh-mediated neurite elongation in primary cortical neurons. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Shh promotes neurite outgrowth in primary cortical neurons at least partially through modulating BDNF expression.

Keywords

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Cortical neuron; Neurite outgrowth; Sonic hedgehog.

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