Neurotrophic effects of leptin on cerebellar Purkinje but not granule neurons in vitro

As recent evidence has revealed a pro-survival role for the anti-obesity hormone leptin in the nervous system, we investigated the generality of this finding on cerebellar Purkinje and granule neurons in vitro. We found that whilst leptin promoted cerebellar Purkinje neuron survival, it had no affect on cerebellar granule cells. In addition, we discovered that leptin promoted both the outgrowth of neurites from cerebellar Purkinje neurons and increased the complexity of the neurite arbor. Thus, leptin has different effects on two neighbouring populations of neurons within the cerebellum implying specificity of its actions in the central nervous system.     

坍塌反应调节蛋白5促进海马神经元突起生长

目的 探讨坍塌反应调节蛋白5(CRMP5)对神经元突起生长的作用。方法 构建CRMP5真核表达载体,采用基因转染、实时定量PCR和免疫印迹技术评估CRMP5基因表达;以空载体为对照组,设3个复孔,用时差成像技术和突起提取技术观察和检测原代培养海马神经元突起的生长。结果 成功构建携带增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）标签蛋白的CRMP5的真核表达载体。脂质体转染技术可成功把CRMP5基因导入细胞,转染的细胞CRMP5表达高于空载体对照组;CRMP5蛋白表达于神经元的胞体和突起,尤其是胞体、突起起始处和突起末端高表达。过表达CRMP5可明显促进突起生长,主要表现为突起的生长,并形成丰富的侧枝;定量结果显示,CRMP5过表达的细胞突起的长度逐渐延长,而且较空载体转染细胞增多,差异显著(P<0.01)。导入CRMP5的细胞突起提取液的吸光度较对照细胞明显升高(P.<0.01)。 结论 CRMP5能促进神经元突起及其分支的生长。     

Tenascin-C stimulates contactin-dependent neurite outgrowth via activation of phospholipase C

Tenascin-C (Tnc) is transiently expressed during neural development. Within its alternatively spliced fibronectin type III (TNfn) -motifs the TNfnD domain is crucial for a neurite outgrowth-promoting region that is recognized by the GPI-linked adhesion molecule of the Ig-superfamily contactin. In order to understand the downstream signaling mechanisms, embryonic day E18 rat hippocampal neurons were cultivated on TNfnBD-containing and control substrates in the presence of various inhibitors. As predicted, axon outgrowth promotion could be suppressed by antibodies to the TNfnD domain, to contactin, or to the β1-integrin subunit. The chelators BAPTA/AM or EGTA as well as blockade of membrane-based calcium channels or of the release of calcium from intracellular stores reduced axon growth to control levels. The inhibition of phospholipase C and its downstream targets protein kinase C or calmodulin kinase likewise blocked outgrowth promotion. We propose that TNfnBD stimulates the outgrowth of hippocampal neurons by activating calcium- and phospholipase C-depending pathways. Digital video microscopy studies revealed that increase of fiber length was caused by an augmentation of growth cone velocity.     

轴突生长抑制因子DNA疫苗对大鼠脑缺血后神经再生的影响

目的研究大鼠轴突生长抑制因子的DNA疫苗（pcDNA3．1（＋）-neurite growth inhibitors，pcDNA—NGIs）对局部脑缺血神经再生的影响。方法采用永久性阻断大脑中动脉血流的方法制备雄性SD大鼠左侧局部脑缺血模型，分别在阻断血流前后经腓肠肌注射pcDNA—NGIs免疫动物，每周一次，共6周；血清中检出特异性抗体6周后，立体定向脑内注射生物素化葡聚糖胺追踪皮质红核投射的新生轴索。结果无论是阻断血流前还是阻断血流后给予pcDNA—NGIs，局部脑缺血后皮质红核投射的代偿性新生轴索都明显增多。结论本研究提示，阻断血流前或阻断血流后给予pcDNA—NGIs均可提高局部脑缺血后的神经再生。     

轴突生长抑制因子DNA疫苗对大鼠中枢神经系统的影响

目的 探讨轴突生长抑制因子DNA疫苗（pcDNA-NGIs）免疫是否会对中枢神经系统造成损害。方法 以pcDNA-NGIs免疫成年Sprague-Dawley大鼠,免疫期间进行实验性自动免疫性脑髓鞘炎评分,同时观察实验动物的感觉运动功能和认知行为。结果以pcDNA-NGIs免疫的大鼠未出现实验性自动免疫性脑髓鞘炎症状。复合神经病学评分、粘附纸条清除试验和开放场地试验表明,pcDNA-NGIs免疫不会损害实验动物的感觉运动功能。另外,被动回避试验和主动回避试验证明,pcDNA-NGIs免疫不会引起学习和记忆障碍。结论 pcDNA-NGIs免疫不会损害实验大鼠中枢神经系统。     

The heat shock protein inhibitor KNK437 induces neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells

The nervous system is highly sensitive to various environmental stresses, such as ischemia. Stress response mechanisms that result in neuroprotection, including the induction of heat shock proteins (HSP), are not well understood. We examined the effect of KNK437, a compound that inhibits the synthesis of inducible heat shock proteins, on neuronal differentiation in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. KNK437 decreased the expression of HSP70, and induced the neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells in the absence of stress stimulation, although with lower efficacy than nerve growth factor (NGF). Neurite outgrowth stimulated by KNK437 and NGF was blocked by inhibitors of ERK mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, p38 MAP kinase, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β signaling pathways. NGF, and not KNK437, induced acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, a functional differentiation marker, indicating that KNK437 utilizes a mechanism distinct from that of NGF. KNK437 enhanced the activity of low dose NGF treatment on neurite outgrowth induction and ERK phosphorylation in PC12 cells, a finding that identifies KNK437 as a possible nerve regeneration agent. This compound may be a useful tool for the investigation of neuronal differentiation and neuroprotection against environmental stress.     

Promotion of neurite outgrowth by protein kinase inhibitors and ganglioside GM1 in neuroblastoma cells involves MAP kinase ERK1/2

To investigate mechanisms of neurite outgrowth, murine Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells were exposed to ganglioside GM1 in the presence or absence of specific protein kinase inhibitors. Isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-89), an inhibitor of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase A (PKA), and bisindolylmaleimide I (BIM), which inhibits protein kinase C, each stimulated neurite outgrowth in a dose-dependent manner in the absence of exogenous GM1. Minimally effective (threshold) concentrations of H-89 or BIM potentiated outgrowth when they were used in combination with GM1. To search for a shared component in the mechanisms of GM1, H-89 and BIM, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was examined. Inhibition of the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK1/2) by U0126, prevented neuritogenesis of Neuro-2a by all the three agents. Pretreatment of serum-depleted Neuro-2a cultures with GM1 or BIM enhanced ERK1/2 phosphorylation when the serum level was restored to 10%. In contrast, H-89 did not alter the serum-mediated response. In cells exposed to GM1 or BIM without additional serum, a transitory decrease in ERK phosphorylation occurred. These data suggest that GM1 influences two neuritogenic pathways, one modulated by PKC and the other regulated by PKA. Therefore, GM1 may have the potential to stimulate alternate pathways resulting in outgrowth.     

Neurite Outgrowth Is Directed by Schwann Cell Alignment in the Absence of Other Guidance Cues

Schwann cells enhance axonal regeneration following nerve injury in vivo and provide a favorable substrate for neurite outgrowth in vitro. However, much remains unknown about the nature of interactions that occur between Schwann cells and growing neurites. In this paper, we describe direct evidence of the ability of Schwann cell alignment alone to direct neurite outgrowth. Previously, we reported that laminin micropatterns can be used to align Schwann cells and thus create oriented Schwann cell monolayers. In the current study, dissociated rat spinal neurons were seeded onto oriented Schwann cell monolayers, whose alignment provided the only directional cue for growing neurites, and neurite alignment with the underlying Schwann cells was analyzed. The orientation of neurite outgrowth mimicked that of the Schwann cells. Associations observed between neurites and Schwann cells suggest that Schwann cells may guide neurite outgrowth through both topographical and molecular mechanisms. This work demonstrates that Schwann cell alignment can direct neurite outgrowth in the absence of other directional cues, and provides a new method for examining neuronal–Schwann cell interactions in vitro.