Nr2e1 Downregulation Is Involved in Excess Retinoic Acid-induced Developmental Abnormality in the Mouse Brain / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern and function of Nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group E member 1 (Nr2e1) in retinoic acid (RA)-induced brain abnormality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mouse model of brain abnormality was established by administering 28 mg/kg RA, and neural stem cells (NSCs) were isolated from the mouse embryo and cultured in vitro. Nr2e1 expression was detected by whole mount in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and Western blotting. Nr2e1 function was determined by transducing Nr2e1 shRNA into NSCs, and the effect on the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway was assessed in the cells. In addition, the regulation of Nr2e1 expression by RA was also determined in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nr2e1 expression was significantly downregulated in the brain and NSCs of RA-treated mouse embryos, and knockdown of Nr2e1 affected the proliferation of NSCs in vitro. In addition, a similar expression pattern of Nr2e1 and RA receptor (RAR) α was observed after treatment of NSCs with different concentrations of RA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study demonstrated that Nr2e1 could be regulated by RA, which would aid a better understanding of the mechanism underlying RA-induced brain abnormality.</p>

Geriatric Depression

Geriatric depression is a major public health problem. There has been significant progress in our understanding of the nature, clinical course, and treatment of geriatric depression. Important new findings have emerged in a number of areas directly affecting clinical care and have, in turn, stimulated further research. These findings include the association of geriatric depression with brain abnormality and vascular disease;clinical importance of subsyndromal depression;the possible role of sex hormone;the clinical utility of new antidepressant treatments:and clear relationship between depression and suicide. These new findings in various area of geriatric depression were discussed in the present article.