| Abstract: | Cell-type–specific G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling regulates distinct neuronal responses to various stimuli and is essential for axon guidance and targeting during development. However, its function in axonal regeneration in the mature CNS remains elusive. We found that subtypes of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in mice maintained high mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) levels after axotomy and that the light-sensitive GPCR melanopsin mediated this sustained expression. Melanopsin overexpression in the RGCs stimulated axonal regeneration after optic nerve crush by up-regulating mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1). The extent of the regeneration was comparable to that observed after phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) knockdown. Both the axon regeneration and mTOR activity that were enhanced by melanopsin required light stimulation and Gq/11 signaling. Specifically, activating Gq in RGCs elevated mTOR activation and promoted axonal regeneration. Melanopsin overexpression in RGCs enhanced the amplitude and duration of their light response, and silencing them with Kir2.1 significantly suppressed the increased mTOR signaling and axon regeneration that were induced by melanopsin. Thus, our results provide a strategy to promote axon regeneration after CNS injury by modulating neuronal activity through GPCR signaling.Severed axons in the adult mammalian CNS do not spontaneously regenerate to restore lost functions. The failure of axons to regenerate is mainly attributed to the diminished growth capacity of neurons as well as an inhibitory environment (1–6). Optic nerves have been extensively studied for mechanisms regulating axon regeneration in CNS. When presented with permissive substrates such as a sciatic nerve graft, only axons of small populations of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) regrow into the graft (7). When the intrinsic growth program is boosted, distinct subtypes of RGCs regenerate their axons (8). These findings indicate that the differential responses of RGCs to axotomy and growth stimulation are related to their intrinsic properties. One of the critical determinants of the intrinsic regenerative abilities of adult RGCs is neuronal mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity (9). In retinal axons, the loss of the potential to regrow is accompanied by down-regulation of mTOR activity in RGCs with maturation, and further reduction after axotomy. However, a small percentage of RGCs maintain high mTOR activation levels after optic nerve crush (9, 10). One can ask whether specific subsets of RGCs differ in their ability to maintain mTOR activation. Deciphering the physiological mechanism behind the mTOR maintenance could help elucidate the differential responses of neurons to injury signals and develop strategies to promote axon regeneration.Type 1 melanopsin expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (M1 ipRGCs) and αRGCs are resistant to axotomy-induced cell death (8, 11). M1 ipRGCs mainly mediate the circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex function, with their dendrites stratifying in the outermost sublamina of the inner plexiform layer. αRGCs have largest somata among RGCs, and their dendrites are rich in a neurofilament-associated epitope SMI32. Interestingly, axotomy causes dendritic arbor retraction in αRGCs, but not in M1 ipRGCs (10, 11), suggesting subtype-specific responses to lesions. We hypothesized that mTOR signaling could be differentially regulated in these types of RGCs. Here, we show that M1–M3 ipRGCs but not αRGCs maintain mTOR on injury and that this effect is diminished in melanopsin knockout (KO) mice. Ectopic melanopsin overexpression in RGCs promoted axonal regeneration by activating mTORC1. Furthermore, we provide evidence that mTOR up-regulation and axon regeneration depend on light stimulation and Gq/11 signaling and, subsequently, enhanced neuronal activity. Together, our work identifies a mechanistic link between axon regeneration and neuronal activity in vivo and provides an intrinsic factor that can be exploited to promote neural repair after injury. |
