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Cell-cell interaction during synaptogenesis.

1. Neuromuscular synapse formation was studied using nerve and muscle cells dissociated from Xenopus embryos and kept in culture for 1 to 3 days. Within a few minutes of manipulated contact with isolated cholinergic neurons, miniature endplate potential-like depolarizations (MEPPs) due to spontaneous release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the neurons were detected in the muscle cells. 2. Addition of an antibody to a frog neural cell adhesion molecule (anti-NCAM) into the culture medium of nerve-muscle co-cultured for 1-3 days decreased the percentage of functional nerve-muscle contacts. 3. Acute exposure to anti-NCAM (1 hour) inhibited significantly muscle cell contact-triggered ACh release from initially identified cholinergic neurons. 4. Lysed muscle cells manipulated into contact with neurons induced ACh release, whereas lysed neurons did not, suggesting the presence of specific molecules on the muscle cell membrane capable of triggering ACh release from the cholinergic neuron. 5. Transient appearance of electrical coupling was detected between neuronal soma and muscle cell, suggesting the possibility of exchange of modulators for the formation and maintenance of neuromuscular synapses. 6. Neuromuscular synaptogenesis constitutes a complex process where at least two different types of direct cell-cell interaction seem to occur: a) cell surface molecule contact (and binding) for cell recognition and triggering of ACh release, and b) transient intercytoplasmic communication between the cells for possible passage of modulatory molecules.

Acetylcholine↗

Reappearance of hippocampal CA1 neurons after ischemia is associated with recovery of learning and memory.

The pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region are essential for cognitive functions such as spatial learning and memory, and are selectively destroyed after cerebral ischemia. To analyze whether degenerated CA1 neurons are replaced by new neurons and whether such regeneration is associated with amelioration in learning and memory deficits, we have used a rat global ischemia model that provides an almost complete disappearance (to approximately 3% of control) of CA1 neurons associated with a robust impairment in spatial learning and memory at two weeks after ischemia. We found that transient cerebral ischemia can evoke a massive formation of new neurons in the CA1 region, reaching approximately 40% of the original number of neurons at 90 days after ischemia (DAI). Co-localization of the mature neuronal marker neuronal nuclei with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine in CA1 confirmed that neurogenesis indeed had occurred after the ischemic insult. Furthermore, we found increased numbers of cells expressing the immature neuron marker polysialic acid neuronal cell adhesion molecule in the adjacent lateral periventricular region, suggesting that the newly formed neurons derive from this region. The reappearance of CA1 neurons was associated with a recovery of ischemia-induced impairments in spatial learning and memory at 90 DAI, suggesting that the newly formed CA1 neurons restore hippocampal CA1 function. In conclusion, these results show that the brain has an endogenous capacity to form new nerve cells after injury, which correlates with a restoration of cognitive functions of the brain.

Animals↗

Reelin signaling and Cdk5 in the control of neuronal positioning.

Neuronal positioning is important for higher brain function because it is the architectural basis of the formation of precise synaptic circuits. Analysis of neurological mutant mice has led to dramatic progress in the identification and characterization of molecules important for neuronal positioning in the developing mammalian brain. Among these molecules, identification of signal pathways mediated by Reelin and Cdk5 kinase has provided a conceptual framework for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying proper neuronal positioning in the developing mammalian brain. Recent evidence has implicated synergism between Reelin signaling and Cdk5 in contributing to the proper positioning of selective neuronal populations.

Animals↗

The neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) inhibits proliferation in primary cultures of rat astrocytes.

Cell proliferation is a key primary process during neural development and also plays an important role in the regenerative response of neural tissue to injury. It has been reported that glial cell proliferation is, at least in part, controlled by a neuronal signal, possibly involving cell surface molecules. We report here that the addition of purified rat neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) to primary cultures of rat forebrain astrocytes inhibits their proliferation. This inhibitory effect can be elicited in cultures grown in chemically defined serum-free medium or in medium that had been supplemented with growth factors. Polyclonal antibodies to N-CAM or their Fab' fragments elicited a similar inhibitory effect. The magnitude of the inhibitory effect of N-CAM was dependent on cell density: it was maximal at low cell densities and weakened progressively as cells approached confluency. Synthetic peptides with sequences identical to a putative homophilic binding region of N-CAM mimicked the effect of purified N-CAM, while peptides of the same length and amino acid composition but with a randomized sequence did not. The addition of N-CAM antisense oligonucleotides to primary astrocyte cultures for 48 h resulted in reduced levels of N-CAM expression. After N-CAM levels on astrocytes were diminished by this treatment, the antiproliferative effect of N-CAM added to the medium was significantly reduced. The combined results suggest that N-CAM homophilic binding may be involved in the control of glial cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Involvement of p90rsk in neurite outgrowth mediated by the cell adhesion molecule L1.

L1 is a neural cell adhesion molecule that has been shown to help guide nascent axons to their targets. This guidance is based on specific interactions of L1 with its binding partners and is likely to involve signaling cascades that alter cytoskeletal elements in response to these binding events. We have examined the phosphorylation of L1 and the role it may have in L1-directed neurite outgrowth. Cytosolic extracts from nerve growth factor-stimulated PC12 cells were fractionated by anion-exchange chromatography, and an activity was found that phosphorylated the cytoplasmic domain of L1. This activity was then assayed using a battery of L1-derived synthetic peptides. Based on these peptide assays and sequencing of radiolabeled L1 proteolytic fragments, the phosphorylation site was determined to be Ser1152. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the L1 kinase activity from PC12 cells that phosphorylated this site was co-eluted with the S6 kinase, p90(rsk). Moreover, S6 kinase activity and p90(rsk) immunoreactivity co-immunoprecipitate with L1 from brain, and metabolic labeling studies have demonstrated that Ser1152 is phosphorylated in vivo in the developing rat brain. The phosphorylation site is located in a region of high conservation between mammalian L1 sequences as well as L1-related molecules in vertebrates from fish to birds. We performed studies to investigate the functional significance of this phosphorylation. Neurons were loaded with peptides that encompass the phosphorylation site, as well as the flanking regions, and their effects on neurite outgrowth were observed. The peptides, which include Ser1152, inhibit neurite outgrowth on L1 but not on a control substrate, laminin. A nonphosphorylatable peptide carrying a Ser to Ala mutation did not affect neurite outgrowth on either substrate. These data demonstrate that the membrane-proximal 15 amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain of L1 are important for neurite outgrowth on L1, and the interactions it mediates may be regulated by phosphorylation of Ser1152.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antibodies that recognize astrotactin block granule neuron binding to astroglia.

To provide a rapid, specific assay for receptor systems involved in the binding of cerebellar granule neurons to astroglia, granule cells, purified from early postnatal mice, or from E15-E16 chicks, were radiolabeled with [35S]methionine and plasma membranes were prepared. The kinetics of binding of radiolabeled material to primary mouse or chick glia or to the mouse G26-24 astrocytoma cell line was measured in the presence or absence of antibodies against astrotactin, neural cell adhesion molecules, cadherins, or integrins. Addition of Fab fragments of astrotactin antibodies reduced the amount of granule cell membrane binding to astroglia by 70%. In contrast, Fab fragments of antibodies against the neural adhesion molecules N-CAM, L1, and N-cadherin and against integrin did not reduce the level of granule cell membrane binding to astroglia. Combinations of antibodies against N-CAM, L1, N-cadherin, and integrin also did not impair neuron binding to glia.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural localization of molecular subtypes of immunoreactive neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in the adult rodent striatum.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a plasma membrane glycoprotein that is thought to mediate adhesion between neuronal elements and play an important role in neural development. Although NCAM has been found in the adult brain, as well as the developing brain, little is known about its function or ultrastructural distribution. A monoclonal antibody which was directed against embryonic (E15-E17) mouse brain and identified 180 and 140 kDa molecular weight forms of NCAM was used to examine the immunohistochemical localization of NCAM in the rodent striatum. Light microscopic results in the adult mouse and rat showed that most NCAM180,140 immunoreactivity was localized to the relatively small population of medium and large-sized aspiny interneurons of the caudate nucleus and to the majority of neurons in the globus pallidus. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that reaction product in aspiny somata was present in discrete, closely spaced patches of cytoplasm along the inner face of the plasma membrane and was also prominent in somatic protrusions which were frequently apposed to synapsing axons. Distal aspiny and pallidal dendrites containing NCAM180,140 received numerous synaptic inputs. Within caudate neuropil NCAM180,140 was also present in spines with thin necks and small spine heads which were postsynaptic to unlabeled axon terminals and in preterminal (unmyelinated) axons and terminal boutons that issued from myelinated bundles and formed asymmetric synapses with unlabeled dendritic spines. This study provides the first evidence in adult brain that NCAM180,140 varies in extent and location within neurons. The heterogeneous distribution of NCAM180,140 in neurons of the basal ganglia may be related to a number of functions such as maintaining or modulating the density and distribution of synaptic inputs and the formation of new contacts on dendritic spines.

Animals↗

The glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-anchored adhesion molecule F3/contactin is required for surface transport of paranodin/contactin-associated protein (caspr).

Paranodin/contactin-associated protein (caspr) is a transmembrane glycoprotein of the neurexin superfamily that is highly enriched in the paranodal regions of myelinated axons. We have investigated the role of its association with F3/contactin, a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored neuronal adhesion molecule of the Ig superfamily. Paranodin was not expressed at the cell surface when transfected alone in CHO or neuroblastoma cells. Cotransfection with F3 resulted in plasma membrane delivery of paranodin, as analyzed by confocal microscopy and cell surface biotinylation. The region that mediates association with paranodin was mapped to the Ig domains of F3 by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. The association of paranodin with F3 allowed its recruitment to Triton X-100-insoluble microdomains. The GPI anchor of F3 was necessary, but not sufficient for surface expression of paranodin. F3-Ig, a form of F3 deleted of the fibronectin type III (FNIII) repeats, although GPI-linked and expressed at the cell surface, was not recovered in the microdomain fraction and was unable to promote cell surface targeting of paranodin. Thus, a cooperative effect between the GPI anchor, the FNIII repeats, and the Ig regions of F3 is required for recruitment of paranodin into lipid rafts and its sorting to the plasma membrane.

Animals↗

Obstructed migration of Purkinje cells in the developing cerebellum of the reeler mutant mouse.

It has been considered that cortical malformation in the brain of the reeler mutant mouse is due to a defect in the process of neuroblast migration during development. We examined the process of Purkinje cell migration in the cerebellar primordium of the reeler mutant immunohistochemically and electron-microscopically, employing a specific marker for Purkinje cells and markers for radial glia. To facilitate the recognition of the homozygote of the reeler mutation (r1) at the embryonic stage, we introduced the chromosome carrying the autosomal semi-dominant mutation, hammer-toe (Hm), by crossbreeding and backcross into the heterozygote of the reeler mutation, which is an autosomal recessive and located on the homologous chromosome. Using this double heterozygous strain (+/rl-Hm/+), the homozygote of rl can be selected from littermates by the normal appearance of the feet. Both the heterozygous rl embryos and non-carriers harbor the Hm locus and show the Hm phenotype as a deformity of the feet that can be recognized from the 15th day of gestation. In the cerebellar primordium of control mice, Purkinje cells migrated radially from the ventricular zone towards the cortex. In contrast, most of the migratory Purkinje cells remained in the intermediate zone, and their migration towards the cortex was obstructed in the cerebellum of the reeler mutant. A disorganized arrangement of both the processes and cell bodies of the radial glia was demonstrated in the cerebellar primordium of the reeler by labeling them with the antibody against tenascin, a neuron-glial adhesion molecule, and the monoclonal antibody 1D11, a marker for immature astroglia. Electron-microscopic observations revealed apposition of the migratory cells to the radially oriented glial processes in the intermediate zone of the control cerebellum. In contrast, the apposition of leading processes of the migratory neuroblasts to disorganized processes of the radial glia was observed in the intermediate zone of the reeler cerebellum. These findings suggest that the obstructed migration and disordered cortical alignment of Purkinje cells in the reeler cerebellum is due to dysgenesis and abnormal development of radial glia, resulting in disturbance of contact guidance in the process of Purkinje cell migration.

Animals↗

Polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule expression by neurons and astroglial processes in the rat dentate gyrus declines dramatically with increasing age.

The expression of polysialylated neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation of young (postnatal day 40), mature (postnatal day 80) and aged (postnatal day 540) male Wistar rats has been investigated by immunohistochemical techniques employing a monoclonal antibody specific for neural cell adhesion molecule-linked alpha 2,8 polysialic acid. A strong immunoreactivity was found on the cell bodies, dendrites and axons of granule-like neuronal cells at the border between the hilar region and the granule cell layer of the young rat. In the mature animal the number of immunoreactive neurons declined dramatically and were virtually absent in the aged group. Using an alternative fixation procedure, glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive and polysialylated astroglia processes were found in close proximity to the dendrites of the polysialylated granule-like cells. The number of astroglial processes traversing the granule cell layer showed a similar age-dependent decline to that observed with the polysialylated neurons. Glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive and polysialylated stellate astroglia were present throughout the hippocampal formation, but did not show the marked age-dependent decline observed with the astroglial processes in the granule cell layer. The neuronal dendrites and astroglial processes exhibited a strict numerical ratio in the young and mature animal and, in double immunofluorescence studies with anti-polysialic acid and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein, the astroglial processes exhibited apparent points of cell and/or dendritic contact. These findings suggest that loss of polysialylated astroglial processes precedes the decline in polysialylated dentate neurons.

Aging↗

Influence of janusin and tenascin on growth cone behavior in vitro.

Janusin and tenascin are glia-derived, structurally related, extracellular matrix glycoproteins of the J1 family that are expressed in vivo at times and in locations where active neurite outgrowth occurs, but also when the formation or stabilization of cytoarchitectonic boundaries appears to be in operation. To resolve this apparent functional dichotomy, we have studied the behavioral response of growth cones, growing in culture on the permissive substrate laminin to janusin and tenascin, by video time lapse microscopy. When janusin and tenascin were offered as sharp substrate boundaries, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and retinal ganglion neuron growth cones avoided growing on these molecules, but were not induced to collapse. On the other hand, when janusin and tenascin were offered, in a mixture with laminin, as uniform substrates, DRG growth cones displayed a collapsed morphology and were able to advance at a faster rate than on laminin alone. In contrast, the outgrowth of retinal ganglion neuron growth cones was completely inhibited under these conditions, underscoring a cell type specificity in the response of growth cones to these molecules. Using several monoclonal antibodies binding to distinct epitopes on the tenascin molecule, we have identified two domains responsible for growth cone repulsion, on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats 3-5 and fibronectin type III homologous repeats 4 and 5. These domains are different from the one previously recognized to be involved in neurite outgrowth on a uniform tenascin substrate. We conclude that both molecules may promote or retard growth cone advance, depending on the spatial expression pattern and the neuronal cell type.

Animals↗

Protein kinase A activation promotes plasma membrane insertion of DCC from an intracellular pool: A novel mechanism regulating commissural axon extension.

Protein kinase A (PKA) exerts a profound influence on axon extension during development and regeneration; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects of PKA are not understood. Here, we show that DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer), a receptor for the axon guidance cue netrin-1, is distributed both at the plasma membrane and in a pre-existing intracellular vesicular pool in embryonic rat spinal commissural neurons. We hypothesized that the intracellular pool of DCC could be mobilized to the plasma membrane and enhance the response to netrin-1. Consistent with this, we show that application of netrin-1 causes a modest increase in cell surface DCC, without increasing the intracellular concentration of cAMP or activating PKA. Intriguingly, activation of PKA enhances the effect of netrin-1 on DCC mobilization and increases axon extension in response to netrin-1. PKA-dependent mobilization of DCC to the plasma membrane is selective, because the distributions of transient axonal glycoprotein-1, neural cell adhesion molecule, and trkB are not altered by PKA in these cells. Inhibiting adenylate cyclase, PKA, or exocytosis blocks DCC translocation on PKA activation. These findings indicate that netrin-1 increases the amount of cell surface DCC, that PKA potentiates the mobilization of DCC to the neuronal plasma membrane from an intracellular vesicular store, and that translocation of DCC to the cell surface increases axon outgrowth in response to netrin-1.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

A cytoplasmic motif targets neuroligin-1 exclusively to dendrites of cultured hippocampal neurons.

The formation of neuronal synapses is thought to depend on trans-synaptic interactions between cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on the surface of axons and dendrites. Synapses are highly asymmetric structures. Pre- and post-synaptic domains might therefore be assembled around heterophilic CAMs which are polarized to axons vs. dendrites. We here investigated the targeting of neuroligin (NLG)-1, a heterophilic CAM, which promotes synapse formation through interaction with its receptor beta-neurexin in axons. We demonstrate that NLG-1 is highly polarized to the dendritic plasma membrane. Dendritic targeting relies on a cytoplasmic amino acid motif. By expressing chimeras of NLG-1 and CD8, an unpolarized protein, we show that the cytoplasmic domain of NLG-1 is necessary and sufficient for dendritic targeting. Furthermore, by truncation analysis we isolated a 32-amino-acid targeting motif. When appended to CD8 this cytoplasmic sequence is sufficient to direct exclusively dendritic localization of the protein. Analysis of yellow fluorescent protein-tagged NLG-1 revealed that vesicular structures containing NLG-1 are excluded from the axon indicating that polarized distribution may be achieved by direct dendritic transport. We propose that the strict polarity of NLG-1 contributes to the directional assembly of synapses during development of the central nervous system.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha modifies adhesion properties of rat islet B cells.

The characteristic three-dimensional cell type organization of islets of Langerhans is perturbed in animal models of diabetes, suggesting that it may be important for islet function. Rat islet cells in culture are able to form aggregates with an architecture similar to native islets (pseudoislets), thus providing a good model to study the molecular basis of islet architecture and its role in islet function. Sorted islet B cells and non-B cells were permanently labeled with two different fluorescent dyes (DiO and DiI), mixed, and allowed to form aggregates during a 5-d culture in the presence or absence of TNF-alpha (100 U/ml), a cytokine suggested to be implicated in the early physiological events leading to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Confocal microscopy of aggregates revealed that TNF-alpha reversibly perturbs the typical segregation between B and non-B cells. Insulin secretion, was altered in the disorganized aggregates, and returned towards normal when pseudoislets had regained their typical architecture. The homotypic adhesion properties of sorted B and non-B cells cultured for 20 h in the presence or absence of TNF-alpha were studied in a short term aggregation assay. TNF-alpha induced a significant rise in Ca(2+)-independent adhesion of B cells (from 24 +/- 1.1% to 44.3 +/- 1.2%; n = 4, P < 0.001). These findings raise the possibility that the increased expression of Ca(2+)-independent adhesion molecules on B cells leads to altered islet architecture, which might be a factor in the perturbation of islet function induced by TNF-alpha.

Animals↗

Direct interaction with contactin targets voltage-gated sodium channel Na(v)1.9/NaN to the cell membrane.

The mechanisms that target various sodium channels within different regions of the neuronal membrane, which they endow with different physiological properties, are not yet understood. To examine this issue we studied the voltage-gated sodium channel Na(v)1.9/NaN, which is preferentially expressed in small sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglia and the nonmyelinated axons that arise from them. Our results show that the cell adhesion molecule contactin binds directly to Na(v)1.9/NaN and recruits tenascin to the protein complex in vitro. Na(v)1.9/NaN and contactin co-immunoprecipitate from dorsal root ganglia and transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell line, and co-localize in the C-type neuron soma and along nonmyelinated C-fibers and at nerve endings in the skin. Co-transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with Na(v)1.9/NaN and contactin enhances the surface expression of the sodium channel over that of Na(v)1.9/NaN alone. Thus contactin binds directly to Na(v)1.9/NaN and participates in the surface localization of this channel along nonmyelinated axons.

Animals↗

Beta amyloid precursor protein mediates neuronal cell-cell and cell-surface adhesion.

The beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a membrane-bound glycoprotein which has been proposed to play a role both as a growth factor and a mediator of cell adhesion. Using the Neuro-2A neuroblastoma cell line, we have investigated the capacity of APP to mediate neural cell adhesion. The cells express the protein at a high level, the immunohistochemical staining pattern at the level of the membrane having a punctate pattern. Fab' fragments of antibodies to the extracellular portion of the molecule were found to inhibit cell binding to a collagen substrate, but not to laminin, fibronectin, or poly-l-lysine. Fab' fragments of antibodies to the nerve cell adhesion molecule N-CAM also inhibited binding of Neuro-2A cells specifically to collagen. This inhibition of cell-surface binding was accompanied by a repression of neurite outgrowth in differentiating cells in the presence of antibodies. APP antibodies also inhibited neuron-neuron and neuron-glial binding, but not glial-glial cell adhesion. These data suggest that the APP, which is expressed primarily on differentiated neuronal cells, may play a role in the mediation of both cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

Contactin associates with sodium channel Nav1.3 in native tissues and increases channel density at the cell surface.

The upregulation of voltage-gated sodium channel Na(v)1.3 has been linked to hyperexcitability of axotomized dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, which underlies neuropathic pain. However, factors that regulate delivery of Na(v)1.3 to the cell surface are not known. Contactin/F3, a cell adhesion molecule, has been shown to interact with and enhance surface expression of sodium channels Na(v)1.2 and Na(v)1.9. In this study we show that contactin coimmunoprecipitates with Na(v)1.3 from postnatal day 0 rat brain where this channel is abundant, and from human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells stably transfected with Na(v)1.3 (HEK-Na(v)1.3). Purified GST fusion proteins of the N and C termini of Na(v)1.3 pull down contactin from lysates of transfected HEK 293 cells. Transfection of HEK-Na(v)1.3 cells with contactin increases the amplitude of the current threefold without changing the biophysical properties of the channel. Enzymatic removal of contactin from the cell surface of cotransfected cells does not reduce the elevated levels of the Na(v)1.3 current. Finally, we show that, similar to Na(v)1.3, contactin is upregulated in axotomized DRG neurons and accumulates within the neuroma of transected sciatic nerve. We propose that the upregulation of contactin and its colocalization with Na(v)1.3 in axotomized DRG neurons may contribute to the hyper-excitablity of the injured neurons.

Animals↗

L1-associated diseases: clinical geneticists divide, molecular geneticists unite.

The neuronal cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily and is essential in the development of the nervous system. It is mainly expressed on neurons and Schwann cells, and plays a key role in axon outgrowth and pathfinding through interactions with various extracellular ligands and intracellular second messenger systems. Mutations in L1 are responsible for a wide spectrum of neurologic abnormalities and mental retardation. This spectrum includes X-linked hydrocephalus, MASA syndrome, X-linked complicated spastic paraplegia type 1 and X-linked agenesis of the corpus callosum. These four diseases were initially described as distinct clinical entities with an overlapping clinical spectrum, but can now be lumped into one syndrome caused by mutations in the L1 gene. The main clinical features of this spectrum are Corpus callosum hypoplasia, mental Retardation, Adducted thumbs, Spastic paraplegia and Hydrocephalus, which has led to the acronym CRASH syndrome.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗