Abstract
In the mouse and the rat brain, the Ets transcription factor pet-1 is exclusively expressed in the central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptaminergic: 5-HT) system. In pet-1 null mice, the defect of this factor induces early disruption of the 5-HT function, resulting in an increase in anxiety and aggression; thus indicating its pivotal role in this system. Here, we studied the expression of fev, the homologue of pet-1, in the human brain. We showed that this transcription factor is exclusively expressed in the midline part of the human brainstem containing raphe nuclei, which also specifically expressed 5-HT transporter (sert) and tryptophan hydroxylase (tph), two markers of the 5-HT neurotransmitter system. This clearly suggests that fev is expressed in human serotonergic neurons. While the deficiency of the central serotonergic signaling is a major factor involved in the development of some psychiatric disorders, Fev could be a good diagnosis marker as well as a good target for pharmacological treatments of these patients.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blotting, Northern / methods
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Brain / cytology*
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Brain / metabolism
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Cell Line
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Gene Expression*
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Humans
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Megakaryocytes
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Membrane Transport Proteins*
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Mice
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Nerve Tissue Proteins*
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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Rats
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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Serotonin / metabolism*
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Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Tryptophan Hydroxylase / genetics
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Tryptophan Hydroxylase / metabolism
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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FEV protein, human
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Membrane Transport Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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SLC6A4 protein, human
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Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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Slc6a4 protein, mouse
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Slc6a4 protein, rat
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Transcription Factors
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Serotonin
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Tryptophan Hydroxylase