Polarization of caveolins and caveolae during migration of immortalized neurons

• Published in: Journal of neurochemistry Vol. 104; no. 2; pp. 514 - 523
• Main Authors: Lentini, D, Guzzi, F, Pimpinelli, F, Zaninetti, R, Cassetti, A, Coco, S, Maggi, R, Parenti, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Ageing, cell death; Animals; beta-Cyclodextrins - pharmacology; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; caveolae; Caveolae - metabolism; caveolin; Caveolins - metabolism; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Line, Transformed; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell Movement - physiology; Cell physiology; Cerebral circulation. Blood-brain barrier. Choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid. Circumventricular organ. Meninges; Chemotaxis - drug effects; Chemotaxis - physiology; cholesterol; Cholesterol - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GN11 cells; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Indoles; Mice; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission - methods; Molecular and cellular biology; Neurology; neuronal migration; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - physiology; Neurons - ultrastructure; Proteins; Signal transduction; Tetrazolium Salts; Thiazoles; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; β-cyclodextrin; Hormone; Polarization; Caveolae; Migration; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Lipids; Chemotaxis; In vitro; β-cyclodextrin; Cell motility; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Neuron; Mouse; neuronal migration; Development; GN11 cells; cholesterol; Models; Localization; caveolin
• ISSN: 0022-3042; 1471-4159
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.05005.x

During CNS development neurons undergo directional migration to achieve their adult localizations. To study neuronal migration, we used a model cell line of immortalized murine neurons (gonadotropin-releasing hormone expressing neurons; GN11), enriched with caveolins and caveolae invaginations that show in vitro chemotaxis upon serum exposure. Cholesterol depletion with methyl-β-cyclodextrin induced the loss of caveolae and the inhibition of chemotaxis, thus suggesting that GN11 migration depends upon the structural integrity of caveolae. Polarization of proteins and organelles is a hallmark of cell migration. Accordingly, GN11 cells transmigrating through filter pores exhibited a polarized distribution of caveolin-1 isoform (cav-1) in the leading processes. In contrast, during two-dimensional migration cav-1 and caveolae polarized at the trailing edge. As caveolae are enriched with signaling molecules, we suggest that asymmetrical localization of caveolae may spatially orient GN11 neurons to incoming migratory signals thereby transducing them into directional migration.