TY - JOUR
T1 - Abundant production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor by adult visceral epithelia
T2 - Implications for paracrine and target-derived neurotrophic functions
AU - Lommatzsch, Marek
AU - Braun, Armin
AU - Mannsfeldt, Anne
AU - Botchkarev, Vladimir A.
AU - Botchkareva, Natalia V.
AU - Paus, Ralf
AU - Fischer, Axel
AU - Lewin, Gary R.
AU - Renz, Harald
PY - 1999/10
Y1 - 1999/10
N2 - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role for the survival of visceral sensory neurons during development. However, the physiological sources and the function of BDNF in the adult viscera are poorly described. We have investigated the cellular sources and the potential role of BDNF in adult murine viscera. We found markedly different amounts of BDNF protein in different organs. Surprisingly, BDNF levels in the urinary bladder, lung, and colon were higher than those found in the brain or skin. In situ hybridization experiments revealed that BDNF mRNA was made by visceral epithelial cells, several types of smooth muscle, and neurons of the myenteric plexus. Epithelia that expressed BDNF lacked both the high- and low-affinity receptors for BDNF, trkB and p75(NTR). In contrast, both receptors were present on neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Studies with BDNF-/-mice demonstrated that epithelial and smooth muscle cells developed normally in the absence of BDNF. These data provide evidence that visceral epithelia are a major source, but not a target, of BDNF in the adult viscera. The abundance of BDNF protein in certain internal organs suggests that this neurotrophin may regulate the function of adult visceral sensory and motor neurons.
AB - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role for the survival of visceral sensory neurons during development. However, the physiological sources and the function of BDNF in the adult viscera are poorly described. We have investigated the cellular sources and the potential role of BDNF in adult murine viscera. We found markedly different amounts of BDNF protein in different organs. Surprisingly, BDNF levels in the urinary bladder, lung, and colon were higher than those found in the brain or skin. In situ hybridization experiments revealed that BDNF mRNA was made by visceral epithelial cells, several types of smooth muscle, and neurons of the myenteric plexus. Epithelia that expressed BDNF lacked both the high- and low-affinity receptors for BDNF, trkB and p75(NTR). In contrast, both receptors were present on neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Studies with BDNF-/-mice demonstrated that epithelial and smooth muscle cells developed normally in the absence of BDNF. These data provide evidence that visceral epithelia are a major source, but not a target, of BDNF in the adult viscera. The abundance of BDNF protein in certain internal organs suggests that this neurotrophin may regulate the function of adult visceral sensory and motor neurons.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)65221-2
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)65221-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 10514401
AN - SCOPUS:0032848721
VL - 155
SP - 1183
EP - 1193
JO - American Journal of Pathology
JF - American Journal of Pathology
SN - 0002-9440
IS - 4
ER -