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

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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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81371287) and the National Natural Science Funds for Young Scholar of China (81401098).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Weiliang He, Lili Cui, Cong Zhang, Xiangjian Zhang, Junna He & Yanzhao Xie

  2. Hebei Key Laboratory for Neurology, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Weiliang He, Lili Cui, Cong Zhang, Xiangjian Zhang, Junna He & Yanzhao Xie

  3. Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Weiliang He, Lili Cui, Cong Zhang, Xiangjian Zhang, Junna He & Yanzhao Xie

  4. Hebei Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Weiliang He, Lili Cui, Cong Zhang, Xiangjian Zhang, Junna He & Yanzhao Xie

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  1. Weiliang He
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  2. Lili Cui
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  3. Cong Zhang
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  4. Xiangjian Zhang
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Correspondence to Xiangjian Zhang.

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He, W., Cui, L., Zhang, C. et al. Sonic Hedgehog Promotes Neurite Outgrowth of Primary Cortical Neurons Through Up-Regulating BDNF Expression. Neurochem Res 41, 687–695 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1736-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1736-5

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