title: The role of neural cell adhesion molecules in plasticity and repair.
abstract: Repair and functional recovery after brain injury critically depends on structural and functional plasticity of preserved neuronal networks. A striking feature of brain structures where tissue reorganization and plasticity occur is a strong expression of the polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM). An important role of this molecule in various aspects of neuronal and synaptic plasticity has been revealed by many studies. Recently, a new mechanism has been elucidated whereby PSA-NCAM may contribute to signalling mediated by the neurotrophic factor BDNF, thereby sensitizing neurons to this growth factor. This mechanism was shown to be important for activity-induced synaptic plasticity and for the survival and differentiation of cortical neurons. A cross-talk between these molecules may, thus, reveal a key factor for properties of structural plasticity and in particular could mediate the activity-dependent aspects of synaptic network remodeling. Animal models have been developed to assess the role of these molecules in functional recovery after lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Centre Médical Universitaire, 1 Rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 4, Geneva, Switzerland. jozsef.kiss@medecine.unige.ch
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Djebbara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vutskits
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000254:growth & development / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules