A combined approach identifies a limited number of new thyroid hormone target genes in post-natal mouse cerebellum

J Mol Endocrinol. 2007 Jul;39(1):17-28. doi: 10.1677/JME-06-0054.

Abstract

Thyroid hormones act directly on gene transcription in the post-natal developing cerebellum, controlling neuronal, and glial cell differentiation. We have combined three experimental approaches to identify the target genes that are underlying this phenomenon: 1) a microarray analysis of gene expression to identify hormone responsive genes in the cerebellum of Pax8-/- mice, a transgenic mouse model of congenital hypothyroidism; 2) a similar microarray analysis on primary culture of cerebellum neurons; and 3) a bioinformatics screen of conserved putative-binding sites in the mouse genome. This identifies surprisingly a small set of target genes, which, for some of them, might be key regulators of cerebellum development and neuronal differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cerebellum / growth & development
  • Cerebellum / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • PAX8 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors / genetics
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / isolation & purification
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Thyroxine / genetics*
  • Triiodothyronine / genetics*

Substances

  • PAX8 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Pax8 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone
  • Triiodothyronine
  • RNA
  • Thyroxine