PURPOSE: Because NELL2 expression is strictly restricted only in neurons in developing and post- differentiated neural tissues, it is thought to be involved in the neuronal differentiation during development and in the maintenance of neuronal physiology in the post-differentiated neurons. In this study, we examined whether NELL2 is involved in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis in the hippocampal neuroprogenitor HiB5 cells. METHODS: Effects of NELL2 on the cultured HiB5 cell numbers, DNA fragmentation, and proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle were measured. RESULTS: NELL2 induced a decrease in cell numbers and an increase in G1 phase arrest. Moreover, transfection of NELL2 resulted in an increase of DNA fragmentation that shows an evidence of apoptosis. Contents of proteins involved in the regulation of cell cycle were also changed by transfection of NELL2 expression vectors. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that NELL2 plays an important role in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis of neurons.
Apoptosis ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle* ; DNA Fragmentation ; G1 Phase ; Neurons* ; Physiology ; Transfection

Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile mucocutanenous syndrome associated with multisystemic vasculitis. The etiology of Kawasaki disease is still unknown therefore this disease can be diagnosed only based upon clinician's recognition of a symptom pattern which includes high fever, oral cavity changes, polymorphous skin rash, conjuctival injections, cervical lymphadenopathy, and swelling of peripheral extremities. Early diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease is critical to reduce the risk of cardiac complications such as coronary aneurysm. However there is no specific diagnostic tools for Kawasaki disease, unusual clinical manifestation resembling infectious disease involving cervical lesion often leads to delay in appropriate diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease. We report a ten-year-old girl with Kawasaki disease whose initial presentation mimicking peritonsillar abscess.
Communicable Diseases ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Exanthema ; Extremities ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mouth ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Peritonsillar Abscess* ; Vasculitis