This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zaninetti, R. Articles by Genazzani, A. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zaninetti, R. Articles by Genazzani, A. A.

Calcineurin Primes Immature Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Secreting Neuroendocrine Cells for Migration

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari, Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche and Drug and Food Biotechnology Center (R.Z., S.T., J.E., C.D., F.C., P.L.C., A.A.G.), Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro," 28100 Novara, Italy; and Department of Endocrinology (R.M., A.C.), Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Armando A. Genazzani, DiSCAFF, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy. E-mail: Genazzani{at}pharm.unipmn.it.

During development, many neurons display calcium-dependent migration, but the role of this messenger in regulating gene expression leading to this event has not yet been elucidated. Among the decoders of calcium signals is calcineurin, a Ca²⁺/calmodulin serine/threonine phosphatase that has been involved in both short-term and long-term cellular changes. By using immortalized GnRH-secreting neurons, we now show that, in vitro, Ca²⁺-dependent gene expression, proceeding via calcineurin and the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells, is a key player controlling the chemomigratory potential of developing GnRH-secreting neurons. Furthermore, our data highlight the switch nature of this phosphatase, whose activation or inactivation guides cells to proceed from one genetic program to the next.