Choline deficiency decreases proliferation of embryonic neural progenitor cells through inhibiting epidermal growth factor pathway (827.2)

Abstract

Choline deficiency can alter the development of fetal hippocampus. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is pivotal for neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation in the embryonic ventricular and subventricular zones. To address the possibility that EGF signaling pathway plays a functional role in the effect of choline deficiency, we cultured NPCs derived from E14 mouse hippocampus and treated them with low choline (5 µM) or medium choline (70 µM). Low choline significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR) and activation of downstream effectors ERK1/2 and Akt after stimulation of NPCs with EGF. Moreover, low choline decreased the EGFR protein expression and half‐life in NPCs. There were no changes observed on the EGFR mRNA expression and degradation of EGFR protein. However, low choline remarkably inhibited the EGFR nascent protein synthesis. Our findings reveal that choline deficiency influences NPC proliferation by suppressing EGFR signaling pathway, which might have long‐term effects in the brain.Grant Funding Source: North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC)