Expression of TMEFF1 mRNA in the mouse central nervous system: precise examination and comparative studies of TMEFF1 and TMEFF2

TMEFF1 and TMEFF2 are putative transmembrane proteins comprised of one epid ermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain and two follistatin-like domains. Bot h TMEFF1 and TMEFF2 are predominantly expressed in the brain. We previously demonstrated that recombinant TMEFF2 protein can promote survival of neuro ns in primary culture and determined expression sites of TMEFF2 mRNA in the mouse central nervous system. To extend our understanding of TMEFF protein functions, we compared precise sites of expression of TMEFF1 and TMEFF2 mR NA using in situ hybridization analysis. Although both TMEFF genes are wide ly expressed in the brain, they exhibit different patterns of expression. T MEFF1 showed comparatively higher signals in the pyramidal cells of fifth l ayer of the cerebral neocortex, CA3, CA1 and subiculum regions of the hippo campus, locus coeruleus, and dentate cerebellar nucleus. In contrast, TMEFF 2 is highly expressed in the medial habenular, CA2, CA3 and dentate gyrus r egion of the hippocampus, corpus callosum, cerebellar cortex and cranial ne rve nuclei (III, IV, VII, X, XII). The results presented here indicate that expression of TMEFF1 and TMEFF2 are regulated differently and that they pl ay region-specific roles in the central nervous system. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.