Developmental regulation of homeobox gene expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons is not recapitulated during regeneration of the crushed sciatic nerve.
The adult peripheral nervous system is able to regenerate after injury. Regeneration is associated with the expression of new genes and proteins. Proteins abundant in developing axons increase in expression after injury, whereas proteins involved in neurotransmission are downregulated. It has been hypothesized that molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration-associated alterations in gene expression may be a recapitulation of developmental processes. These gene expression changes are likely to be regulated by changes in the gene expression of transcription factors. As homeobox genes play important roles in embryonic development of the nervous system, it makes them candidates for a regulatory role in the process of regeneration. Here we show that the relative mRNA expression levels of Isl1 decreased shortly after crush, but those of DRG11, Lmx1b, and Pax3 did not change after crush. These data indicate that the developmental expression patterns of the homeobox genes studied here are not recapitulated during regeneration of the dorsal root ganglia neurons. We conclude that developmental gene expression programs controlled by these homeobox genes are not directly involved in sciatic nerve regeneration.
Vogelaar
C F
CF
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Anatomy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hoekman
M F M
MF
Brakkee
J H
JH
Bogerd
J
J
Burbach
J P H
JP
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000235:genetics; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C112149:LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 beta; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C433766:Prrxl1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063843:insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1; C068686:Pax3 protein, mouse