Oxidized galectin-1 stimulates macrophages to promote axonal regeneration in peripheral nerves after axotomy.
Various neurotrophic factors that promote axonal regeneration have been investigated in vivo, but the signals that prompt neurons to send out processes in peripheral nerves after axotomy are not well understood. Previously, we have shown oxidized galectin-1 (GAL-1/Ox) promotes initial axonal growth after axotomy in peripheral nerves. However, the mechanism by which GAL-1/Ox promotes axonal regeneration remains unclear and is the subject of the present study. To identify possible target cells of GAL-1/Ox, a fluorescently labeled recombinant human GAL-1/Ox (rhGAL-1/Ox) was incubated with DRG neurons, Schwann cells, and intraperitoneal macrophages from adult rats. Only the cell surfaces of intraperitoneal macrophages bound the rhGAL-1/Ox, suggesting that these cells possess a receptor for GAL-1/Ox. Experiments examining tyrosine phosphorylation revealed that rhGAL-1/Ox stimulated changes in signal transduction pathways in these macrophages. These changes caused macrophages to secrete an axonal growth-promoting factor. This was demonstrated when conditioned media of macrophages stimulated with rhGAL-1/Ox in 48 hr culture strongly enhanced axonal regeneration from transected-nerve sites of DRG explants. Furthermore, activated macrophage-conditioned media also improved Schwann cell migration from the transected-nerve sites. From these results, we propose that axonal regeneration occurs in axotomized peripheral nerves as a result of cytosolic reduced galectin-1 being released from Schwann cells and injured axons, which then becomes oxidized in the extracellular space. Oxidized galectin-1 then stimulates macrophages to secrete a factor that promotes axonal growth and Schwann cell migration, thus enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.
Advanced Research Center for Biological Scienc, Waseda University, Nishitokyo City, Tokyo 202-0021, Japan. horie-hidenori@waseda.jp
Hidenori
H
Horie
Toshihiko
T
Kadoya
Naoshi
N
Hikawa
Kazunori
K
Sango
Hiroko
H
Inoue
Kaori
K
Takeshita
Reiko
R
Asawa
Tomoko
T
Hiroi
Manami
M
Sato
Tohru
T
Yoshioka
Yoshihiro
Y
Ishikawa
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019771:Axotomy; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000906:Antibodies; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D037483:Galectin 1