IRS-2 branch of IGF-1 receptor signaling is essential for appropriate timing of myelination

Susanna Freude, Uschi Leeser, Marita Müller, Moritz M. Hettich, Michael Udelhoven, Katharina Schilbach, Kazuyuki Tobe, Takashi Kadowaki, Christoph Köhler, Hannsjörg Schröder, Wilhelm Krone, Jens C. Brüning, Markus Schubert*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 increases proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and promotes differentiation of oligodendrocytes and their precursor cells, indicating an important function for IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling in myelin development. The insulin receptor substrates (IRS), IRS-1 and -2 serve as intracellular IGF-1R adaptor proteins and are expressed in neurons, oligodendrocytes and their precursors. To address the role of IRS-2 in myelination, we analyzed myelination in IRS-2 deficient (IRS-2-/-) mice and age-matched controls during postnatal development. Interestingly, expression of the most abundant myelin proteins, myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein was reduced in IRS-2-/- brains at postnatal day 10 (P10) as compared to controls. myelin basic protein immunostaining in P10-IRS-2-/- mice revealed a reduced immunostaining, but an unchanged regional distribution pattern. In cerebral myelin isolates at P10 unaltered relative expression of different myelin proteins was found, indicating quantitatively reduced but not qualitatively altered myelination. Interestingly, up-regulation of IRS-1 expression and increased IGF-1R signaling were observed in IRS-2-/- mice at P10-14, indicating a compensatory mechanism to overcome IRS-2 deficiency. Adult IRS-2-/- mice showed unaltered myelination and motor function. Furthermore, in neuronal/brain-specific insulin receptor knockout mice myelination was unchanged. Thus, our experiments reveal that IGF-1R/IRS-2 mediated signals are critical for appropriate timing of myelination in vivo.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)907-917
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume107
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008/11

Keywords

  • Brain
  • Insulin receptor substrate-2
  • Insulin-like growth factor-1
  • Mice
  • Myelin development

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'IRS-2 branch of IGF-1 receptor signaling is essential for appropriate timing of myelination'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this