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Interferon-γ Promotes Differentiation of Neural Progenitor Cells via the JNK Pathway

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Abstract

It has been reported that interferon-γ (IFN-γ) facilitates differentiation of PC-12 cells and murine adult neural stem cells. Here we show that IFN-γ promotes the differentiation of C17.2 neural progenitor cells (NPC) into a neuronal phenotype characterized by neurite outgrowth and the expression of the neuronal marker protein β-III tubulin. IFN-γ induced an increase in the activity c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) without affecting activities of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs 1 and 2). An inhibitor of JNK blocked the ability of IFN-γ to promote differentiation of NPC into neurons, whereas an inhibitor of ERKs 1 and 2 did not. Our findings show that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IFN-γ has the potential to stimulate neurogenesis, suggesting roles for this cytokine in development and repair of the nervous system.

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Abbreviations

BDNF:

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

EGF:

Epidermal growth factor

bFGF:

Basic fibroblast growth factor

IFN-γ:

Interferon-γ

MAP:

Mitogen-activated protein

ERK:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase

JNK:

c-Jun N-terminal kinase

DR:

Dietary restriction

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant number 105075–3 from the Technology Development Program for Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Republic of Korea. This work was also supported by the Brain Korea 21 Project in 2006, and the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program of the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Longevity Life Science and Technology Institutes, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, 609-735, Korea

    So Jung Kim, Tae Gen Son, Keunho Kim, Hee Ra Park & Jaewon Lee

  2. Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA

    Mark P. Mattson

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  1. So Jung Kim
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  2. Tae Gen Son
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  3. Keunho Kim
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  4. Hee Ra Park
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  5. Mark P. Mattson
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  6. Jaewon Lee
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Correspondence to Jaewon Lee.

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Kim, S.J., Son, T.G., Kim, K. et al. Interferon-γ Promotes Differentiation of Neural Progenitor Cells via the JNK Pathway. Neurochem Res 32, 1399–1406 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9323-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9323-z

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