The Interleukin 3 Gene (IL3) Contributes to Human Brain Volume Variation by Regulating Proliferation and Survival of Neural Progenitors
Figure 3
IL3RA is mainly expressed in neural progenitors and neurons.
(a, b) Expression of IL3RA was detected in SVZ and IZ regions. Co-labeling with SOX2 showed IL3RA expression cells in SVZ are SOX2 positive, indicating these cells are neural progenitors. However, IL3RA positive cells in IZ are SOX2 negative, indicating these cells are not neural progenitors. (c–e) In the early stages of brain development, co-expression of IL3RA and SOX2 was found in neocortex region. With the development of the central nervous system, expression of SOX2 was down-regulated or disappeared in IL3RA positive cells (f–h). We also found many IL3RA positive cells were not mature neurons (i–k) or glial cells (l–n). Co-labeling with TBR2 demonstrated IL3RA positive cells are intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) (o–q). VZ, ventricular zone; SVZ, subventricular zone; IZ, intermediate zone; CP, cortex plate. Scale bars, 25 µm.