Link Protein 1 Is Involved in the Activity-Dependent Modulation of Perineuronal Nets in the Spinal Cord

The mature nervous system needs to balance stability and plasticity to allow for experience-dependent changes. This balance is controlled by perineuronal nets (PNNs). This study investigates the role of link protein 1 in how activity modulates spinal PNNs, especially after spinal cord injury (SCI). The study found that link protein 1 is essential for both the formation and activity-dependent modulation of PNNs in spinal circuits.

• 1
  Link protein 1 mediates activity-dependent changes in PNNs. Voluntary wheel running increased spinal PNNs in wild-type mice, but not in Crtl1 KO mice.
• 2
  Uninjured Crtl1 knock-out mice exhibit functional outcomes similar to those observed in injured wild-type mice, specifically hyperreflexia and hyperalgesia.
• 3
  Spinal cord injury reduced lumbar perineuronal nets in WT mice, but not in Crtl1 KO mice, suggesting the lack of link protein 1 impairs PNN modulation after injury.