Comm function in commissural axon guidance: cell-autonomous sorting of Robo in vivo

Commissureless (Comm) controls axon guidance across the Drosophila melanogaster midline by regulating surface levels of Robo, the receptor for the midline repellent Slit. Two different models have been proposed for how Comm regulates Robo: a 'sorting' model and a 'clearance' model, both based on studies using heterologous cells in vitro. Here, we test these two models in vivo. We establish a genetic rescue assay for Comm, and use this assay to show that midline crossing does not require the presence of Comm in midline cells, as proposed by the clearance model. Moreover, by monitoring the trafficking of a Robo-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion in living embryos, we demonstrate that Comm prevents the delivery of Robo-GFP to the growth cone, as predicted by the sorting model. It has also been suggested that Comm must be ubiquitinated by the Nedd4 ubiquitin ligase. We show here, however, that ubiquitination of Comm is not required for its function in vitro or in vivo, and that Nedd4 is unlikely to function in axon guidance at the midline.     

Dynamic changes in Robo2 and Slit1 expression in adult rat dorsal root ganglion and sciatic nerve after peripheral and central axonal injury

Robos are transmembrane receptors that mediate Slit signaling to repel growth cone outgrowth and neural migration in the developing central nervous system. Their distribution and function in the peripheral nervous system remains unclear. In the present study, we examined expression of Slit1 and Robo2 in adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG), spinal cord and sciatic nerve after peripheral nerve injury (axotomy). In control rats, Slit1 and Robo2 mRNA and protein were expressed at basic levels in the L5 and L6 DRGs. Sciatic transection resulted in a significant up-regulation of both Robo2 and Slit1 mRNA and protein (p<0.05 versus control). The peak of Slit1 and Robo2 expression occurred at days 7 and 14, respectively, and returned to control levels at days 28 and 21 post-axotomy, respectively. By contrast, injury to the central axons of the DRG by dorsal rhizotomy did not up-regulate Slit1 and Robo2 expression. Robo2 staining was stronger in small diameter neurons than in large diameter neurons in control DRG. Interestingly, post-axotomy, Robo2 immunostaining increased in the large diameter neurons and the number of Robo2 positive large diameter neurons increased significantly relative to controls. Non-neuronal cells surrounding the primary sensory neurons, including the satellite cells, were Slit1-positive, and Slit1 protein was expressed in the myelin sheath and non-neural cells in both intact and degenerating sciatic nerve axons. Sciatic nerve transection also led to an accumulation of Slit1 protein in peripheral region of the traumatic neuroma. In conclusion, we report an altered expression and redistribution of Robo2 and Slit1 in the DRG and sciatic nerve trunk after peripheral axotomy. Our results indicate that Slit1 and Robo2 likely play an important role in regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.     

Axon guidance at the midline of the developing CNS

Bilaterally symmetric animals must be capable of transmitting information between the left and right sides of their body to integrate sensory input and to coordinate motor control. Thus, many neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) of a wide variety of higher organisms project so-called commissural axons across the midline. Interestingly, these axons are never observed to re-cross the midline. On the other hand, some neurons project axons that remain on their own (ipsilateral) side of the CNS, without ever crossing the midline. Recent studies demonstrate that specialized cells which reside at the ventral midline of the developing vertebrate spinal cord and Drosophila ventral nerve cord play critical roles in regulating the guidance of both crossing and non-crossing axons. For example, these cells secrete positively-acting guidance cues that attract commissural axons over long distances to the midline of the CNS. Furthermore, short-range interactions between guidance cues present on the surfaces of midline cells, and their receptors expressed on the surfaces of pathfinding axons, allow commissural axons to cross the midline and prevent ipsilaterally projecting axons from entering the midline. Remarkably, as commissural axons cross over to the opposite side of the CNS, the molecular composition of their surfaces is dynamically altered so that they become responsive to repulsive midline guidance cues that they had previously ignored. Thus, this exquisitely controlled guidance system prevents commissural axons from crossing the midline more than once. Strikingly, many of the molecular mechanisms that control midline guidance appear to be evolutionarily conserved.     

Imaging, anatomical, and molecular analysis of callosal formation in the developing human fetal brain

A complex set of axonal guidance mechanisms are utilized by axons to locate and innervate their targets. In the developing mouse forebrain, we previously described several midline glial populations as well as various guidance molecules that regulate the formation of the corpus callosum. Since agenesis of the corpus callosum is associated with over 50 different human congenital syndromes, we wanted to investigate whether these same mechanisms also operate during human callosal development. Here we analyze midline glial and commissural development in human fetal brains ranging from 13 to 20 weeks of gestation using both diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistochemistry. Through our combined radiological and histological studies, we demonstrate the morphological development of multiple forebrain commissures/decussations, including the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, hippocampal commissure, and the optic chiasm. Histological analyses demonstrated that all the midline glial populations previously described in mouse, as well as structures analogous to the subcallosal sling and cingulate pioneering axons, that mediate callosal axon guidance in mouse, are also present during human brain development. Finally, by Northern blot analysis, we have identified that molecules involved in mouse callosal development, including Slit, Robo, Netrin1, DCC, Nfia, Emx1, and GAP-43, are all expressed in human fetal brain. These data suggest that similar mechanisms and molecules required for midline commissure formation operate during both mouse and human brain development. Thus, the mouse is an excellent model system for studying normal and pathological commissural formation in human brain development.     

Expression and role of Roundabout-1 in embryonic Xenopus forebrain.

The receptor Roundabout-1 (Robo1) and its ligand Slit are known to influence axon guidance and central nervous system (CNS) patterning in both vertebrate and nonvertebrate systems. Although Robo-Slit interactions mediate axon guidance in the Drosophila CNS, their role in establishing the early axon scaffold in the embryonic vertebrate brain remains unclear. We report here the identification and expression of a Xenopus Robo1 orthologue that is highly homologous to mammalian Robo1. By using overexpression studies and immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques, we have investigated the role of Robo1 in the development of a subset of neurons and axon tracts in the Xenopus forebrain. Robo1 is expressed in forebrain nuclei and in neuroepithelial cells underlying the main axon tracts. Misexpression of Robo1 led to aberrant development of axon tracts as well as the ectopic differentiation of forebrain neurons. These results implicate Robo1 in both neuronal differentiation and axon guidance in embryonic vertebrate forebrain.     

Axon guidance at the midline choice point.

The central nervous system (CNS) of higher organisms is bilaterally-symmetric. The transfer of information between the two sides of the nervous system occurs through commissures formed by neurons that project axons across the midline to the contralateral side of the CNS. Interestingly, these axons cross the midline only once. Other neurons extend axons that never cross the midline; they project exclusively on their own (ipsilateral) side of the CNS. Thus, the midline is an important choice point for several classes of pathfinding axons. Recent studies demonstrate that specialized midline cells play critical roles in regulating the guidance of both crossing and non-crossing axons at the ventral midline of the developing vertebrate spinal cord and the Drosophila ventral nerve cord. For example, these cells secrete attractive cues that guide commissural axons over long distances to the midline of the CNS. Furthermore, short-range interactions between guidance cues present on the surfaces of midline cells, and their receptors expressed on the surfaces of pathfinding axons, allow commissural axons to cross the midline only once and prevent ipsilaterally-projecting axons from entering the midline. Remarkably, the molecular composition of commissural axon surfaces is dynamically-altered as they cross the midline. Consequently, commissural axons become responsive to repulsive midline guidance cues that they had previously ignored on the ipsilateral side of the midline. Concomitantly, commissural axons lose responsiveness to attractive guidance cues that had initially attracted them to the midline. Thus, these exquisitely regulated guidance systems prevent commissural axons from lingering within the confines of the midline and allow them to pioneer an appropriate pathway on the contralateral side of the CNS. Many aspects of midline guidance are controlled by mechanistically and evolutionarily-conserved ligand-receptor systems. Strikingly, recent studies demonstrate that these receptors are modular; the ectodomains determine ligand recognition and the cytoplasmic domains specify the response of an axon to a given guidance cue. Despite rapid and dramatic progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that control midline guidance, many questions remain.     

Netrins guide Drosophila commissural axons at short range

Netrins are secreted axon guidance molecules required for commissure formation in a wide range of animal species, including Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and mice. They are generally thought to function as chemoattractants, acting at a distance to direct commissural axon growth toward the midline of the central nervous system. We show here, however, that D. melanogaster commissural axons still orient normally and reach the midline even in the complete absence of netrins, though some of them fail to cross the midline. Tethering endogenous netrin to the membrane selectively disrupts its long-range but not short-range activity, yet still allows normal commissure formation. We therefore propose that netrins act in commissural axon guidance as short-range cues that promote midline crossing, not as long-range chemoattractants.     

Vilse, a conserved Rac/Cdc42 GAP mediating Robo repulsion in tracheal cells and axons

Slit proteins steer the migration of many cell types through their binding to Robo receptors, but how Robo controls cell motility is not clear. We describe the functional analysis of vilse, a Drosophila gene required for Robo repulsion in epithelial cells and axons. Vilse defines a conserved family of RhoGAPs (Rho GTPase-activating proteins), with representatives in flies and vertebrates. The phenotypes of vilse mutants resemble the tracheal and axonal phenotypes of Slit and Robo mutants at the CNS midline. Dosage-sensitive genetic interactions between vilse, slit, and robo mutants suggest that vilse is a component of robo signaling. Moreover, overexpression of Vilse in the trachea of robo mutants ameliorates the phenotypes of robo, indicating that Vilse acts downstream of Robo to mediate midline repulsion. Vilse and its human homolog bind directly to the intracellular domains of the corresponding Robo receptors and promote the hydrolysis of RacGTP and, less efficiently, of Cdc42GTP. These results together with genetic interaction experiments with robo, vilse, and rac mutants suggest a mechanism whereby Robo repulsion is mediated by the localized inactivation of Rac through Vilse.     

双色荧光示踪鸡胚脊髓两侧连合纤维投射研究方法的建立

目的建立1种双色荧光示踪鸡胚脊髓两侧连合纤维投射的实验方法。方法鸡胚孵育至胚龄2.5~3d,通过鸡胚活体原位电转基因技术将携带有报告基因绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的质粒(p CAGGS-GFP)准确注射到鸡胚脊髓腔,实现定时、定位活体电转基因。转染后继续孵育至6d,取GFP阳性表达的胚胎,部分做脊髓横向切片,部分利用open-book技术将脊髓展开观察连合纤维的发育情况,每组至少取3个标本。其后在脊髓非转染侧连合神经元所在之处,点状注射Di I乙醇溶液,封片后于4℃避光孵育3d,在荧光显微镜下观察脊髓连合纤维投射情况。结果脊髓横切及open-book结果显示,鸡胚脊髓GFP阳性转染侧的神经元轴突穿过底板投射到脊髓对侧;同时在open-book结果中还可观察到,转染侧轴突穿过底板后分别沿腹索和外侧索向头尾部投射;Di I标记的非转染侧连合神经元轴突也同样穿过底板投射到对侧,并在侧索白质内延伸。结论本实验成功建立了1种双色荧光示踪鸡胚脊髓两侧连合纤维投射的研究方法,为研究脊髓神经发育提供技术保障。     

Cell-surface heparan sulfate is involved in the repulsive guidance activities of Slit2 protein.

Slit proteins are a family of secreted guidance proteins that can repel neuronal migration and axon growth via interaction with their cellular roundabout receptors (Robos). Here it was shown that Slit2-Robo-1 interactions were enhanced by cell-surface heparan sulfate. Removal of heparan sulfate decreased the affinity of Slit for Robo by about threefold. In addition, removal of cell-surface heparan sulfate by heparinase III abolished the chemorepulsive response to Slit2 normally shown by both the migrating neurons and growing axons. These results indicate essential roles for cell-surface heparan sulfate in the repulsive activities of Slit2.     

Slit1 promotes regenerative neurite outgrowth of adult dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro via binding to the Robo receptor

Secreted Slit proteins have previously been shown to signal through Roundabout (Robo) receptors to negatively regulate axon guidance and cell migration. During vertebrate development, Slit proteins have also been shown to stimulate branching and elongation of sensory axons and cortical dendrites. In this study, Slit1/Robo2 mRNA and protein expressions were detected in adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and in cultured DRG neurons. Treatment of both models with recombinant, soluble Slit1 protein was found to promote neurite outgrowth and elongation. In contrast, treatment with a recombinant human Robo2/Fc chimera inhibited neurite outgrowth and elongation. When adult DRG and cultured DRG neurons were pretreated with soluble recombinant human Robo2/Fc chimera, neurite outgrowth and elongation was not induced. These findings indicate that Slit1/Robo2 signaling may have a role in regulating peripheral nerve regeneration.     

Autocrine/juxtaparacrine regulation of axon fasciculation by Slit-Robo signaling

Axons travel to their targets in bundles or fascicles, but the molecules regulating fasciculation remain incompletely characterized. We found that Slit2 and its Robo receptors are expressed by motor axons, and that inactivation of Slit2 or Robo1 and Robo2 in mice caused axons to defasciculate prematurely at muscle targets. In vitro, Slit2 secreted by motoneurons regulated fasciculation through Robo1 and Robo2. These results support the idea that Slit2 promotes axon fasciculation via an autocrine and/or juxtaparacrine mechanism.     

Slit3 inhibits activator protein 1-mediated migration of malignant melanoma cells

The repellent factor family of Slit molecules has been described to have repulsive function in the developing nervous system on growing axons expressing the Robo receptors. Alterations of the Slit/Robo system have been observed in various pathological conditions and in cancer. However, until today no detailed studies on Slit function on melanoma migration are available. Therefore, we analysed the mRNA expression in melanoma cells and found induction of Robo3 expression compared to normal melanocytes. Functional assays performed with melanoma cells revealed that treatment with Slit3 led to strong inhibition of migration. Interestingly, we observed down-regulation of AP-1 activity and target gene expression after Slit3 treatment contributing to the negative regulation of migration. Taken together, our data showed that Slit3 reduces the migratory activity of melanoma cells, potentially by repulsion of the cells in analogy to the neuronal system. Further studies will be necessary to prove Slit activity in?vivo, but due to its function, Slit3 activity may be helpful in the treatment of melanoma.     

神经生长导向因子Slit2在鸡胚脊髓发育中的表达

目的 观察神经生长导向因子Slit2在鸡胚神经管和脊髓不同发育时期的表达变化。方法 用免疫组织化学方法检测Slit2蛋白在鸡胚原肠期(HH6-HH10)神经管和第3d-17d(E3-E17期)脊髓中的表达和分布情况。结果 Slit2蛋白在鸡胚神经管和脊髓不同发育时期均有阳性表达,在脊髓中线结构区呈优势表达,在第9d(E9期)脊髓中线底板处表达最明显,第11d后Slit2蛋白阳性表达逐渐减弱并呈散在分布。结论 神经生长导向因子Slit2在鸡胚各发育时期神经管和脊髓的阳性表达呈动态变化。Slit2蛋白在脊髓发育过程起着重要作用。     

Association interneurons of embryonic rat spinal cord transiently express the cell surface glycoprotein SNAP/TAG-1.

SNAP/TAG-1 is a 135 kDa glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin superfamily that is transiently expressed upon the surfaces of developing axons. In the embryonic rodent spinal cord, this molecule is expressed by motor neurons, dorsal root ganglion cells, and commissural neurons (Yamamoto et al.: J. Neurosci. 6:3576-3594, 1986; Dodd et al.: Neuron 1:105-116, 1988). The commissural cells are a subset of early-forming dorsal horn interneurons whose axons follow a circumferential course in the embryonic spinal cord. The axons of commissural neurons cross the developing ventral commissure to terminate on contralateral synaptic targets, whereas those of the other subset of circumferential cells, the association interneurons, remain on the same side of the spinal cord to form ipsilateral, terminal synaptic fields. The difference between the axonal trajectories of these two subsets of nerve cells raised the question of whether or not association interneurons would also express the SNAP/TAG-1 epitope and, if so, how would this expression be related to that of the commissural cells. Immunocytochemistry for SNAP/TAG-1 and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was used to answer these questions. The results indicated that association interneurons expressed SNAP/TAG-1 epitopes and that this expression began later and lasted longer than that of the commissural neurons. Other new findings of this study included the identification of a lateral subgroup of commissural fibers that expressed SNAP/TAG-1 later than their more medially located counterparts, and these lateral fibers were more pronounced in the thoracic spinal cord than at cervical levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

基于鸡胚电转技术研究脊髓神经干细胞相关基因功能方法的建立

目的建立一种基于鸡胚电转技术研究脊髓神经干细胞(NSCs)相关基因功能的方法。方法 RT-PCR检测鸡胚发育不同时期脊髓NSCs表面标志物;在鸡胚胚龄(E)E2.5~E3时,利用活体电转基因技术将p CAGGSGFP质粒转染到鸡胚脊髓,E6时体视荧光显微镜下筛选绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)阳性胚胎,每组至少取材5个;通过脊髓横切及open-book技术观察神经纤维投射情况;普通光学显微镜下剥离出3~5条脊髓,经胰蛋白酶消化、离心后,无血清NSCs培养基重悬获得细胞铺板,于37℃、5%CO_2细胞培养箱内培养,定时观察GFP阳性脊髓NSCs的形态变化。结果 RT-PCR结果表明,鸡胚脊髓中阳性表达NSCs表面标志物;随后的脊髓横切及open-book结果表明,GFP阳性转染侧的神经纤维能穿过底板,投射到脊髓对侧;而脊髓NSCs体外培养结果显示,GFP标记的脊髓细胞具有典型的NSCs形态,继续培养后有明显突起产生。结论本实验成功建立了一种基于鸡胚电转技术研究脊髓神经干细胞相关基因功能的方法。     

Fragments of SLIT3 inhibit cellular migration

The repellent factor family of Slit molecules has been described as having a repulsive function in the developing nervous system on growing axons expressing the Roundabout (Robo) receptors. Recent studies determined the effects of Slit molecules on the migratory and invasive potential of several types of tumor cells but also on synovial fibroblasts (SFs) derived from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. To optimize a potential therapeutic application we aimed at generatingfragments of Slit3 showing the same functional ability as the full-length molecule but having the advantage of a smaller size. Recombinant Slit3 proteins were expressed and analyzed by western blotting. Their activity was defined by functional assays such as migration assays with RASF and melanoma cells. Recombinant Slit3 containing only leucine rich repeat domain?2 (D2), the domain important for Robo binding and the minimal functional unit D2 dNC were both able to inhibit migration of RASFs as effectively as Slit3 with all 4?repeats. Collectively, our data showed that the ability of Slit3 to reduce the migratory activity of synovial cells from patients with RA and melanoma cells can be mimicked by small protein fragments derived from Slit3. Slit3 fragments may be helpful in therapeutic attempts; however, further studies are necessary in order to elucidate their activity in vivo.     

Robo2-Slit1 dependent cell-cell interactions mediate assembly of the trigeminal ganglion

Vertebrate cranial sensory ganglia, responsible for sensation of touch, taste and pain in the face and viscera, are composed of both ectodermal placode and neural crest cells. The cellular and molecular interactions allowing generation of complex ganglia remain unknown. Here, we show that proper formation of the trigeminal ganglion, the largest of the cranial ganglia, relies on reciprocal interactions between placode and neural crest cells in chick, as removal of either population resulted in severe defects. We demonstrate that ingressing placode cells express the Robo2 receptor and early migrating cranial neural crest cells express its cognate ligand Slit1. Perturbation of this receptor-ligand interaction by blocking Robo2 function or depleting either Robo2 or Slit1 using RNA interference disrupted proper ganglion formation. The resultant disorganization mimics the effects of neural crest ablation. Thus, our data reveal a novel and essential role for Robo2-Slit1 signaling in mediating neural crest-placode interactions during trigeminal gangliogenesis.