Non-canonical actions of Nogo-A and its receptors.
Nogo-A is a myelin associated protein and one of the most potent neurite growth inhibitors in the central nervous system. Interference with Nogo-A signaling has thus been investigated as therapeutic target to promote functional recovery in CNS injuries. Still, the finding that Nogo-A presents a fairly ubiquitous expression in many types of neurons in different brain regions, in the eye and even in the inner ear suggests for further functions besides the neurite growth repression. Indeed, a growing number of studies identified a variety of functions including regulation of neuronal stem cells, modulation of microglial activity, inhibition of angiogenesis and interference with memory formation. Aim of the present commentary is to draw attention on these less well-known and sometimes controversial roles of Nogo-A. Furthermore, we are addressing the role of Nogo-A in neuropathological conditions such as ischemic stroke, schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases.
Department of Neurosurgery, Neurocenter and Regenerative Neuroscience Cluster, University Hospital Bern and University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Stefanie
S
Seiler
Department of Neurosurgery, Neurocenter and Regenerative Neuroscience Cluster, University Hospital Bern and University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland.
Stefano
S
Di Santo
Department of Neurosurgery, Neurocenter and Regenerative Neuroscience Cluster, University Hospital Bern and University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: hanswi@insel.ch.
Hans Rudolf
HR
Widmer
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000070798:Nogo Proteins
D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; C000603199:RTN4 protein, human
Cell signaling; Distribution; Neurodegenerative diseases; Nogo-A; Nogo-receptor; Regenerative medicine