Targeting cell surface receptors for axon regeneration in the central nervous system
Abstract
Axon regeneration in the CNS is largely unsuccessful due to excess inhibitory extrinsic factors within lesion sites together with an intrinsic inability of neurons to regrow following injury. Recent work demonstrates that forced expression of certain neuronal transmembrane receptors can recapitulate neuronal growth resulting in successful growth within and through inhibitory lesion environments. More specifically, neuronal expression of integrin receptors such as alpha9beta1 integrin which binds the extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin-C, trk receptors such as trkB which binds the neurotrophic factor BDNF, and receptor PTPσ which binds chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans, have all been show to significantly enhance regeneration of injured axons. We discuss how reintroduction of these receptors in damaged neurons facilitates signalling from the internal environment of the cell with the external environment of the lesion milieu, effectively resulting in growth and repair following injury. In summary, we suggest an appropriate balance of intrinsic and extrinsic factors are required to obtain substantial axon regeneration.
Citation
Cheah , M & Andrews , M R 2017 , ' Targeting cell surface receptors for axon regeneration in the central nervous system ' , Neural Regeneration Research , vol. 11 , no. 12 , pp. 1884-1887 . https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.197079
Publication
Neural Regeneration Research
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1673-5374Type
Journal item
Rights
Copyright © 2017, Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‑NonCommercial‑ ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non‑commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
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