Section Days abstract book 2010.indd - RUB Research School ...

LS_8
Functional role of Vav3 for the regulation and
differentiation of neural stem/ progenitor cells in the
developing visual system
Veronika Luft 1,2 , Klaus-Dieter Fischer 4 , Ulf Eysel 2,3 , Andreas Faissner 1,2
1
Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr University Bochum,
Germany
2
International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
3
Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
4
Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg,
Germany
e-mail: Veronika.Luft@rub.de
Chondroitinsulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are highly enriched extracellular matrix (ECM)
components in the developing ventricular zone. The degradation of their covalently attached
gylcosaminoglycan chains induces a switch from neurogenic to gliogenic differentiation,
diminishing neuronal progenitors and their progeny while simultaneously promoting
astrocytic development. But the mechanisms, by which CSPGs regulate the proliferation and
differentiation of neural stem cells, are still unknown. Previous experiments showed that
digestion of glycosaminoglycans with the enzyme chondroitinase ABC leads to the upregulation
of Vav3, an activator of RhoGTPases. In order to investigate the potential role of
Vav3 for mediation of CSPG-dependent signalling in neural stem cells, we focused on the
visual system of Vav3 -/- mice. Here, we analysed the expression pattern of Vav3 during
embryonic and postnatal development. The cellular composition of the embryonic retina and
cortex in Vav3 deficient mice was investigated in vitro and in vivo. And finally, our analysis
revealed differences in the differentiation capacity of Vav3 deficient neurospheres.
Together, we conclude that Vav3 potentially interferes with the proliferation and
differentiation of neural stem cells and that its loss leads to an immature phenotype. This
study will probably lead to a better understanding of the role of CSPGs on stem cell
behaviour.