title: Involvement of the plasminogen enzymatic cascade in the reaction to axotomy of rat sympathetic neurons.
abstract: Axotomy of superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons is characterized by peripheral regeneration of injured axons and temporary disassembly of the intraganglionic synapses, necessary for synaptic silencing. Both events require remodeling of the extracellular matrix achieved through controlled proteolysis of its components by different enzymatic systems. In this study, we investigate the involvement of the plasminogen enzymatic cascade in the response to axotomy of rat SCG neurons. All components of this proteolytic pathway, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen, membrane receptor annexin II and tPA inhibitor (PAI-1), are constitutively expressed in uninjured SCG and increase significantly after SCG neuron axotomy. Immunolocalization of plasminogen, the key protein converted into the enzymatically active plasmin by tPA, in both neurons and non-neuronal cells indicates that all cell types are involved in the response to axotomy. The time course of activation of tPA/plasmin enzymatic pathway suggests its involvement in both intraganglionic synapse remodeling and axonal regeneration.
authors: Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy. egle.destefano@uniroma1.it
authors: M Egle
authors: ME
authors: De Stefano
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Leone
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Moriconi
authors: Arianna
authors: A
authors: Del Signore
authors: Tamara C
authors: TC
authors: Petrucci
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Paggi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D047468:Immunoprecipitation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology*; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D010958:Plasminogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator