Integrin-Driven Axon Regeneration in the Spinal Cord Activates a Distinctive CNS Regeneration Program

After spinal cord injury, nerve fibers need to regenerate to restore neurologic function. Severed nerve fibers must be made to regenerate. This research uses messenger RNA profiling in regenerating sensory neurons to discover which mechanisms are activated during nerve regeneration. This study shows that the regenerating neurons initiate a novel CNS regeneration program which includes molecular transport, autophagy, ubiquitination, and modulation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

• 1
  Expression of a9k1 without the central axotomy led to upregulation of a known PNS regeneration program, including many genes associated with peripheral nerve regeneration.
• 2
  Regeneration in the spinal cord led to expression of a distinctive CNS regeneration program, including genes associated with ubiquitination, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), trafficking, and signaling.
• 3
  Potential transcriptional drivers of this CNS program coupled to regeneration include Mef2a, Runx3, E2f4, and Yy1.