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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
29
pubmed:dateCreated
2011-7-19
pubmed:abstractText
The N-myc downstream-regulated gene (NDRG) family consists of four related proteins, NDRG1-NDRG4, in mammals. We previously generated NDRG1-deficient mice that were unable to maintain myelin sheaths in peripheral nerves. This condition was consistent with human hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4D, caused by a nonsense mutation of NDRG1. In contrast, the effects of genetic defects of the other NDRG members remain unknown. In this study, we focused on NDRG4, which is specifically expressed in the brain and heart. In situ mRNA hybridization on the brain revealed that NDRG4 was expressed in neurons of various areas. We generated NDRG4-deficient mice that were born normally with the expected Mendelian frequency. Immunochemical analysis demonstrated that the cortex of the NDRG4-deficient mice contained decreased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and normal levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, NGF, neurotrophin-3, and TGF-?1. Consistent with BDNF reduction, NDRG4-deficient mice had impaired spatial learning and memory but normal motor function in the Morris water maze test. When temporary focal ischemia of the brain was induced, the sizes of the infarct lesions were larger, and the neurological deficits were more severe in NDRG4-deficient mice compared with the control mice. These findings indicate that NDRG4 contributes to the maintenance of intracerebral BDNF levels within the normal range, which is necessary for the preservation of spatial learning and the resistance to neuronal cell death caused by ischemic stress.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
1083-351X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:day
22
pubmed:volume
286
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
26158-65
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2011
pubmed:articleTitle
NDRG4 protein-deficient mice exhibit spatial learning deficits and vulnerabilities to cerebral ischemia.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't