Expression of the Parkinson's disease protein DJ-1 during the differentiation of neural stem cells

DJ-1 is a key neuroprotective factor and its loss-of-function mutations cause an autosomal recessive, early-onset form of familial Parkinson's disease at the chromosomal PARK7 locus. However, the expression of DJ-1 during the differentiation of neural stem cells has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the expression of DJ-1 quantitatively using fluorescence immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry for differentiated neural stem cells from the cortex of the 14-day mouse embryos. We found that DJ-1 was co-expressed with the neuron-specific enolase and glial fibrillary acidic proteins, and also its expression was significantly increased in neurons and astrocytes with a prolonged differentiation period. These findings strongly suggest that DJ-1 is closely associated with the differentiation of neural stem cells.

► Expression of DJ-1 was quantitated during the differentiation of neural stem cells.
► DJ-1 was co-expressed with neuron-specific enolase and glial fibrillary acidic protein.
► Expression of DJ-1 was significantly increased in neurons and astrocytes.
► Distribution patterns of DJ-1 suggest mechanistic information for Parkinson's disease.