Death of an axon: studying axon loss in development and disease.
The loss of axon branches is a common feature of both the developing and the diseased nervous system. Despite its fundamental importance, a clear mechanistic understanding is lacking on how axonal loss occurs. However, the first molecular inroads into post-traumatic (Wallerian) axon degeneration have recently been made. In parallel, imaging techniques that allow visualizing single axons in vivo are providing a first glimpse at the cellular mechanisms of active dismantling of superfluous or diseased axons. This gives hope that soon a clearer mechanistic understanding of axon loss will emerge: comparing different forms of axon loss will reveal the spectrum of axon loss mechanisms; studies aimed at integrating the known molecular and cellular players during axon loss will provide mechanistic insight into axon dismantling; finally-by understanding how axons are normally lost-we will hopefully find ways to protect them during neurological disease or after trauma.
Misgeld
Thomas
T
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA. tmisgeld@mcb.harvard.edu
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013569:Synapses / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration / Q000473:pathology