RGD Reference Report - Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) protects motor neurons from chronic glutamate-mediated neurodegeneration. - Rat Genome Database

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Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) protects motor neurons from chronic glutamate-mediated neurodegeneration.

Authors: Bilak, MM  Corse, AM  Bilak, SR  Lehar, M  Tombran-Tink, J  Kuncl, RW 
Citation: Bilak MM, etal., J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1999 Jul;58(7):719-28.
RGD ID: 8628906
Pubmed: PMID:10411342   (View Abstract at PubMed)

Although pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a neurotrophic factor that may aid the development, differentiation, and survival of adjacent neural retinae, the wider distribution of PEDF mRNA in the central nervous system suggested to us that this factor could have pleiotropic neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects on nonretinal neurons. We examined the distribution of PEDF mRNA and its transcript in the spinal cord. By immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis using an antihuman PEDF antiserum of known specificity, we found that PEDF protein is present in spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, and skeletal muscle and that its mRNA appears concentrated in motor neurons of the human spinal cord. These observations indicate that PEDF could have potential autocrine and paracrine effects on motor neurons, as well as being target-derived. We analyzed the pharmacologic utility of PEDF in a postnatal organotypic culture model of motor neuron degeneration and proved it is highly neuroprotective. The effect was biologically important, significantly sparing the spinal cord's gross organotypic morphological appearance and preserving motor neuron choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). PEDF alone did not increase ChAT, indicating that the observed effect is neuroprotective, not merely an upregulation of motor neuron ChAT. Further, PEDF preserved motor neuron number, proving a survival effect. We hypothesize that PEDF may play important roles in the survival and maintenance of spinal motor neurons in their neuroprotection against acquired insults in postnatal life. It should be developed further as a therapeutic strategy for motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).



Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Cellular Component

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Serpinf1Rataxon  IDA  RGD 
Serpinf1Rataxon hillock  IDA  RGD 
Serpinf1Ratneuronal cell body  IDA  RGD 
Serpinf1Ratperinuclear region of cytoplasm  IDA  RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Serpinf1  (serpin family F member 1)


Additional Information