Neurotractin/kilon promotes neurite outgrowth and is expressed on reactive astrocytes after entorhinal cortex lesion

Michael Schäfer; Anja U Bräuer; Nicolai E Savaskan; Fritz G Rathjen; Thomas Brümmendorf

doi:10.1016/j.mcn.2005.04.010

Neurotractin/kilon promotes neurite outgrowth and is expressed on reactive astrocytes after entorhinal cortex lesion

Mol Cell Neurosci. 2005 Aug;29(4):580-90. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2005.04.010.

Authors

Michael Schäfer¹, Anja U Bräuer, Nicolai E Savaskan, Fritz G Rathjen, Thomas Brümmendorf

Affiliation

¹ Max-Delbrueck-Centre for Molecular Medicine, Developmental Neurobiology Group, D-13092 Berlin, Germany. schaefer@inmed.uni-mrs.fr

PMID: 15946856
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2005.04.010

Abstract

The IgLON subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily consists of four members that are thought to be important in neural cell-cell recognition. Here, we cloned and characterized the murine IgLON subgroup member neurotractin/kilon, in the context of brain development and axonal regeneration. Neurotractin/kilon was found to be upregulated during brain development and is expressed on neurites of primary hippocampal neurons. To elucidate a potential role for neurotractin/kilon during regeneration in the CNS, we performed lesions in the entorhinal cortex, and showed that the expression of neurotractin/kilon is induced on reactive astrocytes. Notably, the expression on reactive astrocytes appears specifically in the denervated outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, where regenerative axon sprouting occurs. In vitro assays demonstrated that neurotractin/kilon attracts hippocampal axons in the stripe assay and that astroglial neurotractin/kilon promotes neurite outgrowth. These results suggest a function for neurotractin/kilon as a trans-neural growth-promoting factor for outgrowing axons following hippocampal denervation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Astrocytes / cytology
Astrocytes / metabolism*
Avian Proteins / metabolism
Brain Injuries / metabolism*
Brain Injuries / physiopathology
COS Cells
Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism
Chick Embryo
Chlorocebus aethiops
DNA, Complementary / analysis
DNA, Complementary / genetics
Denervation
Dentate Gyrus / cytology
Dentate Gyrus / metabolism
Disease Models, Animal
Entorhinal Cortex / injuries
Gliosis / metabolism*
Gliosis / physiopathology
Growth Substances / metabolism*
Membrane Proteins / genetics
Membrane Proteins / isolation & purification
Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Molecular Sequence Data
Nerve Regeneration / physiology*
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
Nerve Tissue Proteins / isolation & purification
Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
Rats
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Substances

Avian Proteins
Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
DNA, Complementary
Growth Substances
Membrane Proteins
Negr1 protein, rat
Nerve Tissue Proteins
neurotractin protein, chicken
neurotractin protein, mouse