Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in mice

Abstract Protein kinases regulate protein activity through phosphorylation, and many have been reported to participate in brain development. Among them, serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 (STK24) is believed to influence apoptosis, spinal synaptogenesis, and neuronal migration. Despite its recognize...

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Main Authors: Kuan-Yu Wu, Chi-Hui Tsao, Nicole Ching Su, Shin-Meng Deng, Guo-Jen Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08035-6
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author Kuan-Yu Wu
Chi-Hui Tsao
Nicole Ching Su
Shin-Meng Deng
Guo-Jen Huang
author_facet Kuan-Yu Wu
Chi-Hui Tsao
Nicole Ching Su
Shin-Meng Deng
Guo-Jen Huang
author_sort Kuan-Yu Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Protein kinases regulate protein activity through phosphorylation, and many have been reported to participate in brain development. Among them, serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 (STK24) is believed to influence apoptosis, spinal synaptogenesis, and neuronal migration. Despite its recognized roles, the functions of STK24 in the brain remains insufficiently explored. Here, we present an in vivo study of brain-specific Stk24 conditional knockout mice. We investigate the impact of Stk24 deletion through histological analysis, behavior assays, and the molecular changes. In our results, Stk24 deletion disrupts the hippocampal formation during development and decreased subsequent adult hippocampal neurogenesis whilst neuronal morphology is relatively unaffected. Additionally, Stk24-deficient mice exhibit anxiety-like behavior and altered stress responses, featuring increased hippocampal neuronal activity, dysregulated HPA axis reactivity, and modified expression patterns of glucocorticoid receptor signaling-related genes. In conclusion, our findings highlight the involvement of Stk24 in brain development, adult hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as anxiety and stress responses.
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spelling doaj-art-0cf9bf8d9ae241efa309f2a050d079052025-08-20T02:19:57ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-04-018111210.1038/s42003-025-08035-6Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in miceKuan-Yu Wu0Chi-Hui Tsao1Nicole Ching Su2Shin-Meng Deng3Guo-Jen Huang4Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung UniversityGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung UniversityGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung UniversityGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung UniversityGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung UniversityAbstract Protein kinases regulate protein activity through phosphorylation, and many have been reported to participate in brain development. Among them, serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 (STK24) is believed to influence apoptosis, spinal synaptogenesis, and neuronal migration. Despite its recognized roles, the functions of STK24 in the brain remains insufficiently explored. Here, we present an in vivo study of brain-specific Stk24 conditional knockout mice. We investigate the impact of Stk24 deletion through histological analysis, behavior assays, and the molecular changes. In our results, Stk24 deletion disrupts the hippocampal formation during development and decreased subsequent adult hippocampal neurogenesis whilst neuronal morphology is relatively unaffected. Additionally, Stk24-deficient mice exhibit anxiety-like behavior and altered stress responses, featuring increased hippocampal neuronal activity, dysregulated HPA axis reactivity, and modified expression patterns of glucocorticoid receptor signaling-related genes. In conclusion, our findings highlight the involvement of Stk24 in brain development, adult hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as anxiety and stress responses.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08035-6
spellingShingle Kuan-Yu Wu
Chi-Hui Tsao
Nicole Ching Su
Shin-Meng Deng
Guo-Jen Huang
Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in mice
Communications Biology
title Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in mice
title_full Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in mice
title_fullStr Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in mice
title_full_unstemmed Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in mice
title_short Stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in mice
title_sort stk24 deficiency causes disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety like behavior in mice
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08035-6
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