Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by CNS inflammation and axonal demyelination. In addition, axonal pathology has also been reported in MS and may be responsible for the functional deficits associated with this disease. Based on preliminary data from our laboratory, we propose that a specific domain of the neuron, known as the axon initial segment (AIS), is targeted in MS. Consistent with our work from the human tissue, we have also observed disruption of AIS integrity in a murine CNS inflammatory model and observations strongly implicate reactive microglia as mediators of AIS disruption. In contrast, a murine model of demyelination did not exhibit AIS pathology but reactive microglia were prevalent. Since we propose that reactive microglia drive AIS disruption in our inflammatory CNS model but observe no AIS pathology following demyelination even in the presence of reactive microglia, we propose that reactive microglia in these models exhibit different interactions and molecular profiles. To test this hypothesis, we employed immunofluorescence labeling combined with confocal microscopy to quantify microglia reactivity and microglia-AIS interaction. Additionally, we conducted a microarray using RNA isolated from microglia from both the inflammatory and demyelinating models. Our findings show that microglia are reactive prior to pathology in both models and that the extent of AIS-microglial contact is similar between the models but significantly increased as compared to naïve mice. Our microarray data reveal a substantial difference in gene expression indicating functional differences between the reactive microglia in the inflammatory and demyelinating models. Finally, following functional enrichment analysis of microarray data, the complement pathway emerged as a potential contributor to the AIS pathology observed in EAE.

Axonal regeneration within the mammalian central nervous system following traumatic damage is limited and interventions to enable regrowth is a crucial goal in regenerative medicine. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an excellent model to identify the intrinsic genetic programs that govern axonal regrowth. Here we demonstrate that alterations in O-linked N- beta-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) post-translational modifications of proteins can increase the regenerative potential of individual neurons. O-GlcNAc are single monosaccharide protein modifications that occur on serines/threonines in nucleocytoplasmic compartments. Changes in O-GlcNAc levels serve as a sensor of cellular nutrients and acts in part through the insulin-signaling pathway. Loss of O-GlcNAc via mutation of the O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT), the enzyme that adds O-GlcNAc onto target proteins, enhances regeneration by 70%. Remarkably, hyper-O-GlcNAcyation via mutation of the O-GlcNAcase (OGA), the enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc from target proteins, also enhances regeneration by 40%. Our results shed light on this apparent contradiction by demonstrating that O-GlcNAc enzyme mutants differentially modulate the insulin-signaling pathway. OGT mutants act through AKT1 to modulate glycolysis. In contrast, OGA mutants act through the FOXO/DAF-16 transcription factor to improve the mitochondrial stress response. These findings reveal for the first time the importance of O-GlcNAc post-translational modifications in axon regeneration and provide evidence that regulation of metabolic programs can dictate the regenerative capacity of a neuron. / 2021-02-20T00:00:00Z

During nervous system development, growing axons navigate towards their targets using signals from their environment. These signals may be biochemical or mechanical in nature; however, the role of mechanical cues in axon pathfinding in vivo, and the spatiotemporal dynamics of embryonic brain mechanics, are still largely uncharacterised. Here, I have identified a role for tissue mechanics in embryonic axon guidance in vivo, using retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon outgrowth in the developing Xenopus laevis optic tract (OT) as a model system. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to map brain stiffness in vivo, I found that embryonic Xenopus brain tissue was mechanically heterogeneous at both early and later stages of OT outgrowth, i.e. just before RGC axons make a stereotypical turn in the mid-diencephalon, and when they reach their target, respectively. The final path of RGC axon turning followed a clear mechanical gradient: by the later stage, tissue rostral to the OT had become stiffer than tissue caudal to it. This mid-diencephalic stiffness gradient was an intrinsic property of the underlying brain tissue, and correlated with local cell body densities (with higher density rostral to the OT and lower density caudal to it). Crucially, inhibiting cell proliferation in vivo during OT outgrowth abolished the stiffness gradient and reduced OT turning at the later stage. Next, I developed a time-lapse AFM technique to track tissue stiffness and RGC axon behaviour simultaneously in vivo. Using this approach, I followed the evolution of the mid-diencephalic stiffness gradient during intermediate developmental stages, around the time when the OT’s caudal turn is initiated. The stiffness gradient was shallow pre-turn, but increased in magnitude during axon turning (mostly due to an increase in tissue stiffness rostral to the OT). This increase in stiffness gradient preceded the rise in OT turning angle, suggesting that the stiffness gradient is not caused by the invading axons. The observed rise in stiffness gradient correlated with stage-specific increases in local cell density, and was attenuated by blocking mitosis in vivo during time-lapse AFM measurements (which also reduced OT turning). As final confirmation that brain stiffness contributes to RGC axon pathfinding, I disrupted mechanical gradients by artificially stiffening brain tissue in vivo. Importantly, global stiffening via application of transglutaminase eliminated the mid-diencephalic stiffness gradient by increasing tissue stiffness caudal of the OT, and reduced the OT turning angle. Sustained mechanical compression of small areas using an AFM probe stiffened brain locally and repelled RGC axons, consistent with the way they turned away from rapidly stiffening tissue regions during time-lapse AFM experiments. Taken together, these results are consistent with a function for tissue mechanics in axon pathfinding in vivo.

O maior nicho neurogênico no encéfalo adulto está ao redor dos ventrículos laterais, mas a identificação das células que iniciam tal formação é controversa. Há uma inervação do peptídeo CART que pode abrir perspectivas para o entendimento de seu papel na modulação da neurogênese. Propormos estudar a citoarquitetura ultra-estrutural das células proliferativas na região periventricular e descrever a organização dessa região e sua inervação por axonios imunorreativos ao CART. Utilizamos ratos e camundongos adultos, preparados para análise ultraestrutural e neuroquímica em microscópios eletrônicos de transmissão e varredura de alta-resolução, de luz e laser confocal. O estudo da proliferação e inervação ocorreu com a administração do marcador de fase S BrdU e anticorpos anti-BrdU, anti-CART, anti-DCX, anti-GFAP e anti-GFP. Cada tipo celular do nicho neurogênico apresentou uma densidade própria de ir-BrdU. Identificamos células de revestimento ventricular inervadas por axônios. A maior densidade de inervação ir-CART ocorre ao longo do trajeto dos neurônios em formação. / The major neurogenic niche in adult brains surrounds the lateral ventricles, but the identity of the cell that initiates this process in controversial. There is an innervation made by the CART peptide that may lead to perspectives for understanding its role in modulation of neurogenesis. We propose to study the ultrastructural cytoarchitecture of proliferative cells in this region and its innervation by CART immunoreactive axons. We used adult rats and mice, prepared for ultrastructural and neurochemical analysis by transmission and high-resolution scanning electron, light and laser confocal microscopes. The proliferation and innervation studies occured with the S-phase marker BrdU and anti-Brdu, anti-CART, anti-DCX, anti-GFAP, anti-GFP antibodies. Each sort of cells in neurogenic niche presented a proper density of BrdU staining. We identified the cells lining the ventricle being innervated by axons. The major density of CART innervation occurs along the pathway of neurons in maturation process.

Ephrins and Eph receptors have been implicated in a number of developmental processes including axon growth and guidance. One important guidepost is the central nervous system midline, where ephrins and Eph receptors have been implicated. At the embryonic midline, axons either cross into the contralateral central nervous system (CNS) targeting appropriate partners on the opposite side or remain ipsilateral extending either rostrally or caudally. In these studies, we examine a major forebrain commissure called the corpus callosum (CC). Agenesis of the CC is a rare birth defect that occurs in isolated conditions and in combination with other developmental cerebral abnormalities. Recent identification of families of growth and guidance molecules has generated interest in the mechanisms that regulate callosal growth. One family, ephrins and Eph receptors, has been implicated in mediating midline pathfinding decisions; however, the complexity of these interactions has yet to be unraveled. This dissertation sheds light on which B-class ephrins and Eph receptors function to regulate CC midline growth, and how these molecules interact with important guideposts during development. We also show that multiple Eph receptors (B1, B2, B3, and A4) and B-class ephrins (B1, B2, and B3) are present and function in developing forebrain callosal fibers based on both spatial and temporal expression patterns and analysis of gene-targeted knockout mice. Defects are most pronounced in the combination double knockout mice, suggesting that compensatory mechanisms exist for several of these family members. Furthermore, these CC defects range from mild hypoplasia to complete agenesis and Probst's bundle formation. Further analysis of the ephrinB3 gene revealed that Probst's bundle formation may reflect aberrant glial formations which alter the normal architecture of midline glia resulting in one potential mechanism of this abnormal phenotype. Another potential mechanism we discovered is a role for EphB1 receptor in the altered sensitivity of CC axons to midline guidance cues. Removal of this receptor resulted in cortical axons responding to GW guidepost cells with increased sensitivity. Our results support a significant role for ephrins and Eph receptors in CC development and may provide insight to possible mechanisms involved in axon midline crossing as well how failed molecular and genetic mechanisms may contribute to human CC disorders. Lastly, we show that one fiber tract that remains ipsilateral in the forebrain may use distinct midline guideposts to regulate proper growth and guidance. These findings implicate additional ephrins and Eph receptors in CC midline guidance than previously known and reveal novel mechanisms in mice, which may be pertinent to human disease states that result in agenesis of the CC.

It was hypothesized that superparamagnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in a silica shell with a fluorescent dye could be functionalized with axonal tracers and could be used for serial, non-invasive imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for axon tract tracing. Nanoparticles functionalized with amine, octadecyl, silica, and biotinylated dextran amine were manufactured and characterized with MRI, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible, infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Nanoparticle concentrations of 10 mM were not toxic to adult rat neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and labeled approximately 90% of cells. Nanoparticles were assessed for anterograde and retrograde tract tracing in adult rat models. With MRI and microscopy, the nanoparticles did not appear to trace axons but did provide an MRI signal for up to 3 weeks post implantation. While functionalized nanoparticles did not appear to trace axons, they are not toxic to NPCs and may be used as a MRI contrast agent in the neural axis.

It was hypothesized that superparamagnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in a silica shell with a fluorescent dye could be functionalized with axonal tracers and could be used for serial, non-invasive imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for axon tract tracing. Nanoparticles functionalized with amine, octadecyl, silica, and biotinylated dextran amine were manufactured and characterized with MRI, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible, infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Nanoparticle concentrations of 10 mM were not toxic to adult rat neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and labeled approximately 90% of cells. Nanoparticles were assessed for anterograde and retrograde tract tracing in adult rat models. With MRI and microscopy, the nanoparticles did not appear to trace axons but did provide an MRI signal for up to 3 weeks post implantation. While functionalized nanoparticles did not appear to trace axons, they are not toxic to NPCs and may be used as a MRI contrast agent in the neural axis.

The ubiquitously expressed plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) plays an important role in directed cell migration in non-neuronal cells, an effect which requires both the ion translocation and actin cytoskeleton anchoring functions of the protein. In the present study, an analogous role for NHE1 as a modulator of neurite outgrowth was evaluated in vitro utilizing NGF-differentiated PC12 cells as well as mouse neocortical neurons in primary culture. Examined at 3 d.i.v., endogenous NHE1 was found to be expressed in growth cones, where it gave rise to an elevated intracellular pH in actively-extending neurites. Application of the NHE inhibitor cariporide at an NHE1-selective concentration (1 μM) resulted in reductions in neurite extension and elaboration while application of 100 μM cariporide, to inhibit all known plasmalemmal NHE isoforms, failed to exert additional inhibitory effects, suggesting a dominant role for the NHE1 isoform in modulating neurite outgrowth. In addition, whereas transient overexpression of full-length NHE1 enhanced neurite outgrowth in a cariporide-sensitive manner in both NGF-differentiated PC12 cells and WT neocortical neurons, neurite outgrowth was reduced in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells overexpressing NHE1 mutants deficient in either ion translocation activity or actin cytoskeleton anchoring, suggesting that both functional domains of NHE1 are important for modulating neurite elaboration. A role for NHE1 in modulating neurite outgrowth was confirmed in neocortical neurons obtained from NHE1-/- mice which displayed reduced neurite outgrowth when compared to neurons obtained from their NHE1⁺/⁺ littermates. Further, neurite outgrowth in NHE1-/- neurons was rescued by transient overexpression of full-length NHE1 but not with mutant NHE1 constructs again suggesting that both functional domains of NHE1 are important for modulating neurite outgrowth. Finally, the growth promoting effects of netrin-1 but not BDNF or IGF-1 were abolished by cariporide in WT neocortical neurons and while both BDNF and IGF-1 were able to promote neurite outgrowth in NHE1-/- neurons, netrin-1 was unable to elicit this effect. Taken together, these results indicate that NHE1 is a permissive regulator of early neurite morphogenesis and also plays a novel role in netrin-1-stimulated neurite outgrowth.

Neurons are metabolically active cells that depend on mitochondria for ATP production and calcium homeostasis. Within a single neuron, the demand for mitochondrial function is highly variable both spatially and temporally. This need-based distribution is reflected in high local density of mitochondria at presynaptic endings, post-synaptic densities, nodes of Ranvier, and in growth cones, where mitochondrial function is required to sustain neuronal activity. To meet local demand, mitochondria are mobile organelles that move along microtubule cytoskeleton in axons and dendrites. Due to their role in oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondria are prone to oxidative damage that can in turn jeopardize the cell. To minimize cellular damage, an autophagic process, known as mitophagy, has evolved to clear dysfunctional mitochondria. Defects in mitochondrial clearance are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). In neurons, it was thought that mitochondria with reduced membrane potential are retrogradely transported to the soma where they are degraded. In this dissertation, I present a new paradigm where damaged mitochondria are arrested and undergo mitophagy locally in axons. In chapter 2 we report that mitochondrial damage causes arrest of mitochondrial motility in neuronal axons through the action of Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase implicated in PD. Parkin accumulates on the surface of depolarized mitochondria and triggers proteosomal degradation of the mitochondrial motor adaptor protein, Miro, thereby detaching mitochondria from the kinesin and dynein motor complex. This arrest of mitochondria would serve to quarantine them in preparation for their subsequent degradation. In chapter 3, I demonstrate that damage to a small population of axonal mitochondria triggers a pathway of mitophagy that occurs locally in distal axons. Two PD-associated proteins, PINK1, a mitochondrial kinase mutated, and Parkin are both required for axonal mitophagy. In chapter 4, I present preliminary studies examining the turnover rate of neuronal PINK1 in order to characterize its mechanism of activation in distal axons. In conclusion, I have characterized a pathway for quality control of mitochondria in neuronal axons showing that clearance of defective mitochondria oocurs locally in distal axons without a need for their retrograde transport to the soma.

The ubiquitously expressed plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) plays an important role in directed cell migration in non-neuronal cells, an effect which requires both the ion translocation and actin cytoskeleton anchoring functions of the protein. In the present study, an analogous role for NHE1 as a modulator of neurite outgrowth was evaluated in vitro utilizing NGF-differentiated PC12 cells as well as mouse neocortical neurons in primary culture. Examined at 3 d.i.v., endogenous NHE1 was found to be expressed in growth cones, where it gave rise to an elevated intracellular pH in actively-extending neurites. Application of the NHE inhibitor cariporide at an NHE1-selective concentration (1 μM) resulted in reductions in neurite extension and elaboration while application of 100 μM cariporide, to inhibit all known plasmalemmal NHE isoforms, failed to exert additional inhibitory effects, suggesting a dominant role for the NHE1 isoform in modulating neurite outgrowth. In addition, whereas transient overexpression of full-length NHE1 enhanced neurite outgrowth in a cariporide-sensitive manner in both NGF-differentiated PC12 cells and WT neocortical neurons, neurite outgrowth was reduced in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells overexpressing NHE1 mutants deficient in either ion translocation activity or actin cytoskeleton anchoring, suggesting that both functional domains of NHE1 are important for modulating neurite elaboration. A role for NHE1 in modulating neurite outgrowth was confirmed in neocortical neurons obtained from NHE1-/- mice which displayed reduced neurite outgrowth when compared to neurons obtained from their NHE1⁺/⁺ littermates. Further, neurite outgrowth in NHE1-/- neurons was rescued by transient overexpression of full-length NHE1 but not with mutant NHE1 constructs again suggesting that both functional domains of NHE1 are important for modulating neurite outgrowth. Finally, the growth promoting effects of netrin-1 but not BDNF or IGF-1 were abolished by cariporide in WT neocortical neurons and while both BDNF and IGF-1 were able to promote neurite outgrowth in NHE1-/- neurons, netrin-1 was unable to elicit this effect. Taken together, these results indicate that NHE1 is a permissive regulator of early neurite morphogenesis and also plays a novel role in netrin-1-stimulated neurite outgrowth.