Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41252060›Full record

ArticleMetabolic brain disease2025

Pharmacological inhibition of RE1 silencing transcription factor disrupts SOX2 expression and neurogenesis in human induced pluripotent stem cells derived neuronal models.

Ajmal Nassar, Sumukha Hegde, Divya Chandran, Suryadipali Pahadasingh, Aashika Nayak, Sairaj Satarker, Prasada Chowdari Gurram, Dinesh Upadhya, Madhavan Nampoothiri

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Metabolic brain disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ajmal NassarDepartment of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.ORCID 0000-0002-9688-3885
Sumukha HegdeCentre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.ORCID 0000-0001-7198-3372
Divya ChandranCentre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.ORCID 0009-0002-5348-4232
Suryadipali PahadasinghCentre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.ORCID 0009-0005-6876-3543
Aashika NayakCentre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.ORCID 0009-0009-7564-0874
Sairaj SatarkerDepartment of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.ORCID 0000-0002-4213-2664
Prasada Chowdari GurramDepartment of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.ORCID 0000-0002-3458-9664
Dinesh UpadhyaCentre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India. dinesh.upadhya@manipal.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-0673-9765
Madhavan NampoothiriDepartment of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India. madhavan.ng@manipal.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-2218-2004

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe role of RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor (REST) in human neurogenesis remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the expression patterns and possible targets of REST during the early stages of human neurogenesis. Methods: Human neural stem cells and neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were generated through established protocols. hiPSCs and derived neurons were characterized by immunocytochemistry (SOX2, OCT4, TUJ-1) and qPCR for pluripotency and neuronal marker expression. REST expression and the effect of REST inhibition using X5050 at different stages of development were evaluated using immunostaining. Further, proteomic analysis was performed to identify the key molecules and signalling pathways impacted by the inhibition of REST during neurogenesis. Western blotting and quantitative PCR were used to validate the key molecule targeted by REST inhibition. Results: Immunocytochemistry and qPCR examinations have affirmed the promising expression of pluripotency markers (SOX2, OCT4, Nanog) in hiPSCs and the neuronal marker TUJ-1 in differentiated neurons. REST expression is seen in hiPSCs, immature neurons, and mature neurons derived from hiPSCs. In immature neurons, REST proteins are seen in the soma and axons, while in mature neurons, REST is seen in the soma and is absent in the axons. The inhibition of REST in hiPSCs, NSCs and neuronal precursor cells with X5050 significantly reduced REST levels. Reduced REST levels in NSCs led to significant downregulation of essential proteins involved in neurogenesis, including SOX2, a key regulator of neural stem cell proliferation. REST inhibition by X5050 disrupted pivotal neurogenic signaling axis, including MAPK and WNT pathways, and reduced the mRNA expression of NESTIN, β-catenin (CTNNB1), and MAPK3, indicating perturbation of neural stem cell identity and key regulatory mechanisms. Conclusion: REST is a crucial regulator of human neurogenesis. REST is essential to drive neurogenesis as it controls the SOX2 levels during this stage. The role of REST in regulating neurogenic pathways offers novel perspectives on its potential as a target for therapy of neurodevelopmental diseases. Graphical abstract.

Indexed as

Induced Pluripotent Stem CellsNeurogenesisNeuronsRepressor ProteinsSOXB1 Transcription FactorsCell DifferentiationCells, CulturedHumansNeural Stem CellsRE1-Silencing Transcription FactorRE1-Silencing Transcription FactorRepressor ProteinsSOX2 protein, humanSOXB1 Transcription FactorsDrug targetMAPKNeurogenesisRE1-Silencing transcription factor (REST)SOX2WNT

Identifiers

PMID41252060
PMCPMC12627181

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.