Analysis of gene expression during neurite outgrowth and regeneration.
BACKGROUND
The ability of a neuron to regenerate functional connections after injury is influenced by both its intrinsic state and also by extrinsic cues in its surroundings. Investigations of the transcriptional changes undergone by neurons during in vivo models of injury and regeneration have revealed many transcripts associated with these processes. Because of the complex milieu of interactions in vivo, these results include not only expression changes directly related to regenerative outgrowth and but also unrelated responses to surrounding cells and signals. In vitro models of neurite outgrowth provide a means to study the intrinsic transcriptional patterns of neurite outgrowth in the absence of extensive extrinsic cues from nearby cells and tissues.


RESULTS
We have undertaken a genome-wide study of transcriptional activity in embryonic superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) during a time course of neurite outgrowth in vitro. Gene expression observed in these models likely includes both developmental gene expression patterns and regenerative responses to axotomy, which occurs as the result of tissue dissection. Comparison across both models revealed many genes with similar gene expression patterns during neurite outgrowth. These patterns were minimally affected by exposure to the potent inhibitory cue Semaphorin3A, indicating that this extrinsic cue does not exert major effects at the level of nuclear transcription. We also compared our data to several published studies of DRG and SCG gene expression in animal models of regeneration, and found the expression of a large number of genes in common between neurite outgrowth in vitro and regeneration in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
Many gene expression changes undergone by SCG and DRG during in vitro outgrowth are shared between these two tissue types and in common with in vivo regeneration models. This suggests that the genes identified in this in vitro study may represent new candidates worthy of further study for potential roles in the therapeutic regrowth of neuronal connections.
Szpara
Moriah L
ML
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. mszpara@princeton.edu
Vranizan
Karen
K
Tai
Yu Chuan
YC
Goodman
Corey S
CS
Speed
Terence P
TP
Ngai
John
J
D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D019556:COS Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D049108:Cell Enlargement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005724:Ganglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017779:Sympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D040121:Semaphorin-3A