Prolonged Sox4 expression in oligodendrocytes interferes with normal myelination in the central nervous system

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Prolonged Sox4 expression in oligodendrocytes interferes with normal myelination in the central nervous system
Creators Name:	Potzner, M.R. and Griffel, C. and Luetjen-Drecoll, E. and Boesl, M.R. and Wegner, M. and Sock, E.
Abstract:	The highly related transcription factors Sox4 and Sox11 are both expressed in oligodendrocyte precursors. Yet, it is unknown whether they have a function in oligodendrocyte development. By overexpressing Sox4 under the control of 3.1 kb of MBP 5' flanking sequences in transgenic mice, we extended Sox4 expression in the oligodendrocyte lineage from oligodendrocyte precursors to cells undergoing terminal differentiation. As a consequence of transgene expression, mice develop the full spectrum of phenotypic traits associated with a severe hypomyelination during the first postnatal weeks. Myelin gene expression was severely reduced and myelin dramatically thinned in several CNS regions. Despite these disturbances in CNS myelination, the number of oligodendrocytic cells remained unaltered. Considering that apoptosis rates were normal and proliferation only slightly increased, oligodendrocytes likely persist in a premyelinating to early myelinating state. This shows that prolonged Sox4 expression in cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage is incompatible with the acquisition of a fully mature phenotype and argues that the presence of Sox4, and possibly Sox11, in oligodendrocyte precursors may normally prevent premature differentiation.
Keywords:	Cell Differentiation, Central Nervous System, Cerebellum, Corpus Callosum, Gene Expression Regulation, High Mobility Group Proteins, Messenger RNA, Myelin Basic Protein, Myelin Proteins, Myelin Sheath, Oligodendroglia, SOXC Transcription Factors, Spinal Cord, Trans-Activators, Transgenes, Animals, Mice, Rats
Source:	Molecular and Cellular Biology
ISSN:	0270-7306
Publisher:	American Society for Microbiology
Volume:	27
Number:	15
Page Range:	5316-5326
Date:	August 2007
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.00339-07
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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