Kappa opioid receptor contributes to EGF-stimulated neurite extension in development.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a mitogen, also stimulates neurite extension during development, but the underlying mechanism is elusive. This study reveals a functional role for kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in EGF-stimulated neurite extension, and the underlying mechanism. EGF and activated EGF receptor (EGFR) levels are elevated in embryonic spinal cords during late gestation stages, with concurrent rise in protein levels of KOR and axon extension markers, growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), and transient axonal glycoprotein-1 (TAG-1). Both GAP43 and TAG-1 levels are significantly lower in KOR-null (KOR(-/-)) spinal cords, and EGFR inhibitors effectively reduce the levels of KOR, GAP43, and TAG-1 in wild-type embryonic spinal cords. For KOR(-/-) or KOR-knockdown dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, EGF can no longer effectively stimulate axon extension, which can be rescued by introducing a constitutive KOR expressing vector but not by a regulated KOR vector carrying its 5' untranslated region, which can be bound and repressed by growth factor receptor-bound protein 7 (Grb7). Furthermore, blocking KOR activation by application of anti-dynorphin, KOR antagonist, or EGFR inhibitor effectively reduces axon extension of DRG neurons. Thus, EGF-stimulated axon extension during development is mediated, at least partially, by specific elevation of KOR protein production at posttranscriptional level, as well as activation of KOR signaling. The result also reveals an action of EGF to augment posttranscriptional regulation of certain mRNAs during developmental stages.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Nien-Pei
NP
Tsai
Yao-Chen
YC
Tsui
John E
JE
Pintar
Horace H
HH
Loh
Li-Na
LN
Wei
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism; D058969:Contactin 2; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; C548675:Cntn2 protein, mouse; D058969:Contactin 2; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor