Wnt5a evokes cortical axon outgrowth and repulsive guidance by tau mediated reorganization of dynamic microtubules

Wnt5a Promotes Axon Elongation in Coordination with the Wnt-Planar Cell Polarity Pathway

The establishment of neuronal polarity, involving axon specification and outgrowth, is critical to achieve the proper morphology of neurons, which is important for neuronal connectivity and cognitive functions. Extracellular factors, such as Wnts, modulate diverse aspects of neuronal morphology. In particular, non-canonical Wnt5a exhibits differential effects on neurite outgrowth depending upon the context. Thus, the role of Wnt5a in axon outgrowth and neuronal polarization is not completely understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Wnt5a, but not Wnt3a, promotes axon outgrowth in dissociated mouse embryonic cortical neurons and does so in coordination with the core PCP components, Prickle and Vangl. Unexpectedly, exogenous Wnt5a-induced axon outgrowth was dependent on endogenous, neuronal Wnts, as the chemical inhibition of Porcupine using the IWP2- and siRNA-mediated knockdown of either Porcupine or Wntless inhibited Wnt5a-induced elongation. Importantly, delayed treatment with IWP2 did not block Wnt5a-induced elongation, suggesting that endogenous Wnts and Wnt5a act during specific timeframes of neuronal polarization. Wnt5a in fibroblast-conditioned media can associate with small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), and we also show that these Wnt5a-containing sEVs are primarily responsible for inducing axon elongation.

The role of microtubule-associated protein tau in netrin-1 attractive signaling

Direct binding of netrin receptors with dynamic microtubules (MTs) in the neuronal growth cone plays an important role in netrin-mediated axon guidance. However, how netrin-1 (NTN1) regulates MT dynamics in axon turning remains a major unanswered question. Here, we show that the coupling of netrin-1 receptor DCC with tau (MAPT)-regulated MTs is involved in netrin-1-promoted axon attraction. Tau directly interacts with DCC and partially overlaps with DCC in the growth cone of primary neurons. Netrin-1 induces this interaction and the colocalization of DCC and tau in the growth cone. The netrin-1-induced interaction of tau with DCC relies on MT dynamics and TUBB3, a highly dynamic β-tubulin isotype in developing neurons. Netrin-1 increased cosedimentation of DCC with tau and TUBB3 in MTs, and knockdown of either tau or TUBB3 mutually blocked this effect. Downregulation of endogenous tau levels by tau shRNAs inhibited netrin-1-induced axon outgrowth, branching and commissural axon attraction in vitro, and led to defects in spinal commissural axon projection in vivo. These findings suggest that tau is a key MT-associated protein coupling DCC with MT dynamics in netrin-1-promoted axon attraction.

Alzheimer's disease: an axonal injury disease?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the primary cause of dementia and is anticipated to impose a substantial economic burden in the future. Over a significant period, the widely accepted amyloid cascade hypothesis has guided research efforts, and the recent FDA approval of an anti- amyloid-beta (Aβ) protofibrils antibody, believed to decelerate AD progression, has further solidified its significance. However, the excessive emphasis placed on the amyloid cascade hypothesis has overshadowed the physiological nature of Aβ and tau proteins within axons. Axons, specialized neuronal structures, sustain damage during the early stages of AD, exerting a pivotal influence on disease progression. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the relationship between axonal damage and AD pathology, amalgamating the physiological roles of Aβ and tau proteins, along with the impact of AD risk genes such as APOE and TREM2. Furthermore, we underscore the exceptional significance of axonal damage in the context of AD.

Microtubule remodelling as a driving force of axon guidance and pruning

The establishment of neuronal connectivity relies on the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton, which provides mechanical support, roads for axonal transport and mediates signalling events. Fine-tuned spatiotemporal regulation of MT functions by tubulin post-translational modifications and MT-associated proteins is critical for the coarse wiring and subsequent refinement of neuronal connectivity. The defective regulation of these processes causes a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with connectivity defects. This review focuses on recent studies unravelling how MT composition, post-translational modifications and associated proteins influence MT functions in axon guidance and/or pruning to build functional neuronal circuits. We here summarise experimental evidence supporting the key role of this network as a driving force for growth cone steering and branch-specific axon elimination. We further provide a global overview of the MT-interactors that tune developing axon behaviours, with a special emphasis on their emerging versatility in the regulation of MT dynamics/structure. Recent studies establishing the key and highly selective role of the tubulin code in the regulation of MT functions in axon pathfinding are also reported. Finally, our review highlights the emerging molecular links between these MT regulation processes and guidance signals that wire the nervous system.

A Role for Second Messengers in Axodendritic Neuronal Polarity

Neuronal polarization is a complex molecular process regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Nerve cells integrate multiple extracellular cues to generate intracellular messengers that ultimately control cell morphology, metabolism, and gene expression. Therefore, second messengers' local concentration and temporal regulation are crucial elements for acquiring a polarized morphology in neurons. This review article summarizes the main findings and current understanding of how Ca2+, IP3, cAMP, cGMP, and hydrogen peroxide control different aspects of neuronal polarization, and highlights questions that still need to be resolved to fully understand the fascinating cellular processes involved in axodendritic polarization.

Actions of WNT family member 5A to regulate characteristics of development of the bovine preimplantation embryo†

WNT signaling is important for regulation of embryonic development. The most abundant WNT gene expressed in the bovine endometrium during the preimplantation period is WNT5A. One objective was to determine whether WNT5A regulates competence of the bovine preimplantation embryo to become a blastocyst and alters the number of cells in the inner cell mass and trophectoderm. A second objective was to delineate features of the cell-signaling mechanisms involved in WNT5A actions. WNT5A caused a concentration-dependent increase in the proportion of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage and in the number of inner cell mass cells in the resultant blastocysts. A concentration of 200 ng/mL was most effective, and a higher concentration of 400 ng/mL was not stimulatory. Bovine serum albumin in culture reduced the magnitude of effects of WNT5A on development to the blastocyst stage. WNT5A affected expression of 173 genes at the morula stage; all were upregulated by WNT5A. Many of the upregulated genes were associated with cell signaling. Actions of WNT5A on development to the blastocyst stage were suppressed by a Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) signaling inhibitor, suggesting that WNT5A acts through Ras homology gene family member A (RhoA)/ROCK signaling. Other experiments indicated that actions of WNT5A are independent of the canonical β-catenin signaling pathway and RAC1/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. This is the first report outlining the actions of WNT5A to alter the development of the mammalian embryo. These findings provide insights into how embryokines regulate maternal-embryonic communication.

The Change in Circadian Rhythms in P301S Transgenic Mice is Linked to Variability in Hsp70-related Tau Disaggregation

Circadian disruption often involves a neurodegenerative disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia, which are characterized by intraneuronal tau accumulations. The altered sleep pattern and diurnal rhythms in these disorders are the results of tau pathology. The circadian disturbance in reverse is thought to develop and potentially aggravate the condition. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, perturbed oscillations in BMAL1 , the core clock gene, were observed in P301S tau transgenic mice. Tau fractionation analysis of the hippocampus revealed profound fluctuations in soluble and insoluble tau protein levels that were in opposite directions to each other according to zeitgeber time. Interestingly, a diurnal oscillation was detected in the heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A (Hsp70) chaperone that was in-phase with soluble tau but out-of-phase with insoluble tau. Tau protein levels decreased in the soluble and insoluble fractions when Hsp70 was overexpressed in HEK293T cells. Transfection of the BMAL1 carrying vector was continual with the increase in Hsp70 expression and diminished tau protein levels, and it was effectively attenuated by the knockdown of Hsp70, suggesting that Bmal1 could modulate tau protein by Hsp70. Our results suggest that altered circadian oscillations affect tau status and solubility by modulating Hsp70 expression in an experimental model of tau pathology. These findings suggest Hsp70 as a possible pathogenic link between circadian disruption and aggravations of tau pathology.

Identification of miRNA and Their Regulatory Effects Induced by Total Flavonoids From Dracocephalum moldavica in the Treatment of Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia (VaD) is a general term used to describe difficulties in memory, reasoning, judgment, and planning caused by a reduced blood flow to the brain and consequent brain damage, in which microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved. Dracocephalum moldavica L. (D. moldavica) is traditionally used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases as well as VaD, but the biomolecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effect are obscure. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms involved in the treatment of VaD by the total flavonoids from Dracocephalum moldavica L. (TFDM) were explored by the identification of miRNA profiling using bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. A total of 2,562 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 3,522 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the GSE120584 and GSE122063 datasets, in which the gene functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction network of 93 core targets, originated from the intersection of the top DEM target genes and DEGs, were established for VaD gene profiling. One hundred and eighty-five targets interacting with 42 flavonoids in the TFDM were included in a compound-target network, subsequently found that they overlapped with potential targets for VaD. These 43 targets could be considered in the treatment of VaD by TFDM, and included CaMKII, MAPK, MAPT, PI3K, and KDR, closely associated with the vascular protective effect of TFDM, as well as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. The subsequent analysis of the compound-target gene-miRNA network indicated that eight miRNAs that mediated 43 targets had a close interaction with TFDM, suggesting that the neuroprotective effects were principally due to kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, which were mostly associated with the miR-3184-3p/ESR1, miR-6762-3p/CDK1, miR-6777-3p/ESRRA, and other related axes. Furthermore, the in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model demonstrated that the dysregulation of miR-3184-3p and miR-6875-5p found by qRT-PCR was consistent with the changes in the bioinformatics analysis. TFDM and its active compounds involving tilianin, luteolin, and apigenin showed significant effects on the upregulation of miR-3184-3p and downregulation of miR-6875-5p in OGD-injured cells, in line with the improved cell viability. In conclusion, our findings revealed the underlying miRNA-target gene network and potential targets of TFDM in the treatment of VaD.

Imaging the structural organization of chemical elements in growth cones of developing hippocampal neurons

During neurodevelopment, neurons form growth cones, F-actin rich extensions located at the distal end of the neurites. Growth cones allow dendrites and axons to build synaptic connections through a process of neurite guidance whose mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Calcium is an important element in this process by inducing F-actin reorganization. We hypothesized that other biologically active elements might be involved in the growth cone-mediated neurite guidance mechanisms. We performed super resolution and confocal microscopy of F-actin, followed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy of phosphorous, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc on growth cones from primary rat hippocampal neurons. We identified two main patterns of element organization. First, active growth cones presenting an asymmetric distribution of Ca co-localized with the cytoskeleton protein F-actin. In active growth cones, we found that the distributions of P, S, Cl, K and Zn are correlated with Ca. This correlation is lost in the second pattern, quiescent growth cones, exhibiting a spread elemental distribution. These results suggest that Ca is not the only element required in the F-actin rich active regions of growth cones. In addition, highly concentrated Fe spots of sub-micrometer size were observed in calcium-rich areas of active growth cones. These results reveal the need for biological active elements in growth cones during neural development and may help explain why early life deficiencies of elements, such as Fe or Zn, induce learning and memory deficits in children.

Local Wnt signalling in the asymmetric migrating vertebrate cells

Wnt signalling is known to generate cellular asymmetry via Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway (Wnt/PCP). Wnt/PCP acts locally (i) to orient membrane polarity and asymmetric establishment of intercellular junctions via conserved set of PCP proteins most specifically represented by Vangl and Prickle, and (ii) to asymmetrically rearrange cytoskeletal structures via downstream effectors of Dishevelled (Dvl). This process is best described on stable phenotypes of epithelial cells. Here, however, we review the activity of Wnt signalling in migratory cells which experience the extensive rearrangements of cytoskeleton and consequently dynamic asymmetry, making the localised effects of Wnt signalling easier to distinguish. Firstly, we focused on migration of neuronal axons, which allows to study how the pre-existent cellular asymmetry can influence Wnt signalling outcome. Then, we reviewed the role of Wnt signalling in models of mesenchymal migration including neural crest, melanoma, and breast cancer cells. Last, we collected evidence for local Wnt signalling in amoeboid cells, especially lymphocytes. As the outcome of this review, we identify blank spots in our current understanding of this topic, propose models that synthesise the current observations and allow formulation of testable hypotheses for the future research.

With the Permission of Microtubules: An Updated Overview on Microtubule Function During Axon Pathfinding

During the establishment of neural circuitry axons often need to cover long distances to reach remote targets. The stereotyped navigation of these axons defines the connectivity between brain regions and cellular subtypes. This chemotrophic guidance process mostly relies on the spatio-temporal expression patterns of extracellular proteins and the selective expression of their receptors in projection neurons. Axon guidance is stimulated by guidance proteins and implemented by neuronal traction forces at the growth cones, which engage local cytoskeleton regulators and cell adhesion proteins. Different layers of guidance signaling regulation, such as the cleavage and processing of receptors, the expression of co-receptors and a wide variety of intracellular cascades downstream of receptors activation, have been progressively unveiled. Also, in the last decades, the regulation of microtubule (MT) assembly, stability and interactions with the submembranous actin network in the growth cone have emerged as crucial effector mechanisms in axon pathfinding. In this review, we will delve into the intracellular signaling cascades downstream of guidance receptors that converge on the MT cytoskeleton of the growing axon. In particular, we will focus on the microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) network responsible of MT dynamics in the axon and growth cone. Complementarily, we will discuss new evidences that connect defects in MT scaffold proteins, MAPs or MT-based motors and axon misrouting during brain development.

The physiological roles of tau and Aβ: implications for Alzheimer's disease pathology and therapeutics

Tau and amyloid beta (Aβ) are the prime suspects for driving pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and, as such, have become the focus of therapeutic development. Recent research, however, shows that these proteins have been highly conserved throughout evolution and may have crucial, physiological roles. Such functions may be lost during AD progression or be unintentionally disrupted by tau- or Aβ-targeting therapies. Tau has been revealed to be more than a simple stabiliser of microtubules, reported to play a role in a range of biological processes including myelination, glucose metabolism, axonal transport, microtubule dynamics, iron homeostasis, neurogenesis, motor function, learning and memory, neuronal excitability, and DNA protection. Aβ is similarly multifunctional, and is proposed to regulate learning and memory, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, repair leaks in the blood-brain barrier, promote recovery from injury, and act as an antimicrobial peptide and tumour suppressor. This review will discuss potential physiological roles of tau and Aβ, highlighting how changes to these functions may contribute to pathology, as well as the implications for therapeutic development. We propose that a balanced consideration of both the physiological and pathological roles of tau and Aβ will be essential for the design of safe and effective therapeutics.

The Cell Biology of Tau Secretion

The progressive accumulation and spread of misfolded tau protein in the nervous system is the hallmark of tauopathies, progressive neurodegenerative diseases with only symptomatic treatments available. A growing body of evidence suggests that spreading of tau pathology can occur via cell-to-cell transfer involving secretion and internalization of pathological forms of tau protein followed by templated misfolding of normal tau in recipient cells. Several studies have addressed the cell biological mechanisms of tau secretion. It now appears that instead of a single mechanism, cells can secrete tau via three coexisting pathways: (1) translocation through the plasma membrane; (2) membranous organelles-based secretion; and (3) ectosomal shedding. The relative importance of these pathways in the secretion of normal and pathological tau is still elusive, though. Moreover, glial cells contribute to tau propagation, and the involvement of different cell types, as well as different secretion pathways, complicates the understanding of prion-like propagation of tauopathy. One of the important regulators of tau secretion in neuronal activity, but its mechanistic connection to tau secretion remains unclear and may involve all three secretion pathways of tau. This review article summarizes recent advancements in the field of tau secretion with an emphasis on cell biological aspects of the secretion process and discusses the role of neuronal activity and glial cells in the spread of pathological forms of tau.

A Subtle Network Mediating Axon Guidance: Intrinsic Dynamic Structure of Growth Cone, Attractive and Repulsive Molecular Cues, and the Intermediate Role of Signaling Pathways

A fundamental feature of both early nervous system development and axon regeneration is the guidance of axonal projections to their targets in order to assemble neural circuits that control behavior. In the navigation process where the nerves grow toward their targets, the growth cones, which locate at the tips of axons, sense the environment surrounding them, including varies of attractive or repulsive molecular cues, then make directional decisions to adjust their navigation journey. The turning ability of a growth cone largely depends on its highly dynamic skeleton, where actin filaments and microtubules play a very important role in its motility. In this review, we summarize some possible mechanisms underlying growth cone motility, relevant molecular cues, and signaling pathways in axon guidance of previous studies and discuss some questions regarding directions for further studies.

Differential Changes in the Number and Morphology of the New Neurons after Chronic Infusion of Wnt7a, Wnt5a, and Dkk-1 in the Adult Hippocampus In Vivo

In the adult hippocampus of many mammals, a particular microenvironment in the neurogenic niche regulates the proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation of neuronal stem cells. In this proliferative niche, a variety of molecules provide a finely regulated molecular signaling that controls stem cell properties. During development, Wnt signaling has been implicated in cell fate determination and proliferation, in the establishment of cell polarity, as well as a cue for axonal growth and dendrite orientation. In the adult brain, this pathway also participates in the stem cell self-renewal and neuronal differentiation. However, the effects of the chronic Wnt signaling modulation in the adult hippocampus, through the infusion of Wnt7a, Wnt5a, and Dkk-1, on the rate of neurogenesis and on the induction of neurite arborization have not been studied. In this study, we show that Wnt7a and Wn5a further increased the rate of newly generated neurons. However, Wnt5a exerted additional effects by promoting neurite growth and neurite misorientation in the dentate gyrus of adult rats. The chronic exposure to Dkk-1 also generated aberrant location of growing neurites. These results suggest that the interplay of canonical and non-canonical Wnt ligands participates in neuronal stem cell proliferation and in the establishment of proper neurite maturation. Anat Rec, 302:1647-1657, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.

Regulation of cytochrome P450 gene expression by ketamine: a review

INTRODUCTION

Although used as an anesthetic drug for decades, ketamine appears to have garnered renewed interest due to its potential therapeutic uses in pain therapy, neurology, and psychiatry. Ketamine undergoes extensive oxidative metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Considerable efforts have been expended to elucidate the ketamine-induced regulation of CYP gene expression. The safety profile of chronic ketamine administration is still unclear. Understanding how ketamine regulates CYP gene expression is clinically meaningful. Areas covered: In this article, the authors provide a brief review of clinical applications of ketamine and its metabolism by CYP enzymes. We discuss the effects of ketamine on the regulation of CYP gene expression, exploring aspects of cytoskeletal remodeling, mitochondrial functions, and calcium homeostasis. Expert opinion: Ketamine may inhibit CYP gene expression through inhibiting calcium signaling, decreasing ATP levels, producing excessive reactive oxygen species, and subsequently perturbing cytoskeletal dynamics. Further research is still needed to avoid possible ketamine-drug interactions during long-term use in the clinic.

The Role of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurons depend on the highly dynamic microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton for many different processes during early embryonic development including cell division and migration, intracellular trafficking and signal transduction, as well as proper axon guidance and synapse formation. The coordination and support from MTs is crucial for newly formed neurons to migrate appropriately in order to establish neural connections. Once connections are made, MTs provide structural integrity and support to maintain neural connectivity throughout development. Abnormalities in neural migration and connectivity due to genetic mutations of MT-associated proteins can lead to detrimental developmental defects. Growing evidence suggests that these mutations are associated with many different neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this review article, we highlight the crucial role of the MT cytoskeleton in the context of neurodevelopment and summarize genetic mutations of various MT related proteins that may underlie or contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.

A growing field: The regulation of axonal regeneration by Wnt signaling

The canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a highly conserved signaling cascade that plays critical roles during embryogenesis. Wnt ligands regulate axonal extension, growth cone guidance and synaptogenesis throughout the developing central nervous system (CNS). Recently, studies in mammalian and fish model systems have demonstrated that Wnt/β-catenin signaling also promotes axonal regeneration in the adult optic nerve and spinal cord after injury, raising the possibility that Wnt could be developed as a therapeutic strategy. In this review, we summarize experimental evidence that reveals novel roles for Wnt signaling in the injured CNS, and discuss possible mechanisms by which Wnt ligands could overcome molecular barriers inhibiting axonal growth to promote regeneration. A central challenge in the neuroscience field is developing therapeutic strategies that induce robust axonal regeneration. Although adult axons have the capacity to respond to axonal guidance molecules after injury, there are several major obstacles for axonal growth, including extensive neuronal death, glial scars at the injury site, and lack of axonal guidance signals. Research in rodents demonstrated that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in retinal neurons and radial glia induced neuronal survival and axonal growth, but that activation within reactive glia at the injury site promoted proliferation and glial scar formation. Studies in zebrafish spinal cord injury models confirm an axonal regenerative role for Wnt/β-catenin signaling and identified the cell types responsible. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that Wnt induces axonal and neurite growth through transcription-dependent effects of its central mediator β-catenin, potentially by inducing regeneration-promoting genes. Canonical Wnt signaling may also function through transcription-independent interactions of β-catenin with cytoskeletal elements, which could stabilize growing axons and control growth cone movement. Therefore, these studies suggest that Wnt-induced pathways responsible for regulating axonal growth during embryogenesis could be repurposed to promote axonal growth after injury.

The Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau Mediates the Organization of Microtubules and Their Dynamic Exploration of Actin-Rich Lamellipodia and Filopodia of Cortical Growth Cones

Proper organization and dynamics of the actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton are essential for growth cone behaviors during axon growth and guidance. The MT-associated protein tau is known to mediate actin/MT interactions in cell-free systems but the role of tau in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics in living neurons is unknown. We used cultures of cortical neurons from postnatal day (P)0-P2 golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) of either sex to study the role of tau in the organization and dynamics of the axonal growth cone cytoskeleton. Here, using super resolution microscopy of fixed growth cones, we found that tau colocalizes with MTs and actin filaments and is also located at the interface between actin filament bundles and dynamic MTs in filopodia, suggesting that tau links these two cytoskeletons. Live cell imaging in concert with shRNA tau knockdown revealed that reducing tau expression disrupts MT bundling in the growth cone central domain, misdirects trajectories of MTs in the transition region and prevents single dynamic MTs from extending into growth cone filopodia along actin filament bundles. Rescue experiments with human tau expression restored MT bundling, MT penetration into the growth cone periphery and close MT apposition to actin filaments in filopodia. Importantly, we found that tau knockdown reduced axon outgrowth and growth cone turning in Wnt5a gradients, likely due to disorganized MTs that failed to extend into the peripheral domain and enter filopodia. These results suggest an important role for tau in regulating cytoskeletal organization and dynamics during growth cone behaviors.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Growth cones are the motile tips of growing axons whose guidance behaviors require interaction of the dynamic actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that stabilizes microtubules in neurons and in cell-free systems regulates actin-microtubule interaction. Here, using super resolution microscopy, live-cell imaging, and tau knockdown, we show for the first time in living axonal growth cones that tau is important for microtubule bundling and microtubule exploration of the actin-rich growth cone periphery. Importantly tau knockdown reduced axon outgrowth and growth cone turning, due to disorganized microtubules that fail to enter filopodia and co-align with actin filaments. Understanding normal tau functions will be important for identifying mechanisms of tau in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Potential Role of Microtubule Stabilizing Agents in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are characterized by neuroanatomical abnormalities indicative of corticogenesis disturbances. At the basis of NDDs cortical abnormalities, the principal developmental processes involved are cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation. NDDs are also considered “synaptic disorders” since accumulating evidence suggests that NDDs are developmental brain misconnection syndromes characterized by altered connectivity in local circuits and between brain regions. Microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins play a fundamental role in the regulation of basic neurodevelopmental processes, such as neuronal polarization and migration, neuronal branching and synaptogenesis. Here, the role of microtubule dynamics will be elucidated in regulating several neurodevelopmental steps. Furthermore, the correlation between abnormalities in microtubule dynamics and some NDDs will be described. Finally, we will discuss the potential use of microtubule stabilizing agents as a new pharmacological intervention for NDDs treatment.

Uncoupling of UNC5C with Polymerized TUBB3 in Microtubules Mediates Netrin-1 Repulsion

Modulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics is a key event of cytoskeleton remodeling in the growth cone (GC) during axon outgrowth and pathfinding. Our previous studies have shown that the direct interaction of netrin receptor DCC and DSCAM with polymerized TUBB3, a neuron-specific MT subunit in the brain, is required for netrin-1-mediated axon outgrowth, branching, and attraction. Here, we show that uncoupling of polymerized TUBB3 with netrin-1-repulsive receptor UNC5C is involved in netrin-1-mediated axonal repulsion. TUBB3 directly interacted with UNC5C and partially colocalized with UNC5C in the peripheral area of the GC of primary neurons from the cerebellar external granule layer of P2 mouse pups of both sexes. Netrin-1 reduced this interaction as well as the colocalization of UNC5C and TUBB3 in the GC. Results from the in vitro cosedimentation assay indicated that UNC5C interacted with polymerized TUBB3 in MTs and netrin-1 decreased this interaction. Knockdown of either TUBB3 or UNC5C blocked netrin-1-promoted axon repulsion in vitro and caused defects in axon projection of DRG toward the spinal cord in vivo Furthermore, live-cell imaging of end-binding protein 3 tagged with EGFP (EB3-GFP) in primary external granule layer cells showed that netrin-1 differentially increased MT dynamics in the GC with more MT growth in the distal than the proximal region of the GC during repulsion, and knockdown of either UNC5C or TUBB3 abolished the netrin-1 effect. Together, these data indicate that the disengagement of UNC5C with polymerized TUBB3 plays an essential role in netrin-1/UNC5C-mediated axon repulsion.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Proper regulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics in the growth cone plays an important role in axon guidance. However, whether guidance cues modulate MT dynamics directly or indirectly is unclear. Here, we report that dissociation of UNC5C and polymerized TUBB3, the highly dynamic β-tubulin isoform in neurons, is essential for netrin-1/UNC5C-promoted axon repulsion. These results not only provide a working model of direct modulation of MTs by guidance cues in growth cone navigation but also help us to understand molecular mechanisms underlying developmental brain disorders associated with TUBB3 mutations.

The Kinesin Adaptor Calsyntenin-1 Organizes Microtubule Polarity and Regulates Dynamics during Sensory Axon Arbor Development

Axon growth and branching, and development of neuronal polarity are critically dependent on proper organization and dynamics of the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton. MTs must organize with correct polarity for delivery of diverse cargos to appropriate subcellular locations, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating MT polarity remain poorly understood. Moreover, how an actively branching axon reorganizes MTs to direct their plus ends distally at branch points is unknown. We used high-speed, in vivo imaging of polymerizing MT plus ends to characterize MT dynamics in developing sensory axon arbors in zebrafish embryos. We find that axonal MTs are highly dynamic throughout development, and that the peripheral and central axons of sensory neurons show differences in MT behaviors. Furthermore, we show that Calsyntenin-1 (Clstn-1), a kinesin adaptor required for sensory axon branching, also regulates MT polarity in developing axon arbors. In wild type neurons the vast majority of MTs are directed in the correct plus-end-distal orientation from early stages of development. Loss of Clstn-1 causes an increase in MTs polymerizing in the retrograde direction. These misoriented MTs most often are found near growth cones and branch points, suggesting Clstn-1 is particularly important for organizing MT polarity at these locations. Together, our results suggest that Clstn-1, in addition to regulating kinesin-mediated cargo transport, also organizes the underlying MT highway during axon arbor development.

Neuronal polarization: From spatiotemporal signaling to cytoskeletal dynamics

Neuronal polarization establishes distinct molecular structures to generate a single axon and multiple dendrites. Studies over the past years indicate that this efficient separation is brought about by a network of feedback loops. Axonal growth seems to play a major role in fueling those feedback loops and thereby stabilizing neuronal polarity. Indeed, various effectors involved in feedback loops are pivotal for axonal growth by ultimately acting on the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. These effectors have key roles in interconnecting actin and microtubule dynamics - a mechanism crucial to commanding the growth of axons. We propose a model connecting signaling with cytoskeletal dynamics and neurite growth to better describe the underlying processes involved in neuronal polarization. We will discuss the current views on feedback loops and highlight the current limits of our understanding.

The mitotic tensegrity guardian tau protects mammary epithelia from katanin-like1-induced aneuploidy

The microtubule associated-protein tau has been identified as an effective positive prognostic indicator in breast cancer. To explore the physiological function of tau in early carcinogenesis, endogenous tau was knocked down in primary cultured human mammary epithelial cells. This resulted in chromosome-bridging during anaphase followed by micronucleation, both of which were suppressed by a further katanin-like1 knockdown. We also detected that the exogenously expressed katanin-like1 induction of cellular transformation is prevented by exogenous tau in rat fibroblasts. The mutant katanin-like1 (L123V) identified in breast cancer showed an increase in this transformation capacity as well as microtubule severing activity resistant to tau. The tau knockdown resulted in a loss of the kinetochore fibers on which tau is normally localized. This physical fragility was also observed in isolated tau-knockdown mitotic spindles, supporting the relevance of microtubule damage to the onset of transformation. The karyotyping of tau-knockdown cells showed increased frequency of loss of one X chromosome, further suggesting the involvement of tau in breast tumorigenesis. We propose that tau may contribute to tumor progression by protecting spindle microtubules from excess severing by katanin-like1. We also present data indicating that the microtubule-binding octapeptide NAP is a candidate modifier against the tau deficiency in tumor cells.

Facilitation of axon outgrowth via a Wnt5a-CaMKK-CaMKIα pathway during neuronal polarization

Background

Wnt5a, originally identified as a guidance cue for commissural axons, activates a non-canonical pathway critical for cortical axonal morphogenesis. The molecular signaling cascade underlying this event remains obscure.

Results

Through Ca²⁺ imaging in acute embryonic cortical slices, we tested if radially migrating cortical excitatory neurons that already bore primitive axons were sensitive to Wnt5a. While Wnt5a only evoked brief Ca²⁺ transients in immature neurons present in the intermediate zone (IZ), Wnt5a-induced Ca²⁺ oscillations were sustained in neurons that migrated out to the cortical plate (CP). We wondered whether this early Wnt5a-Ca²⁺ signaling during neuronal polarization has a morphogenetic consequence. During transition from round to polarized shape, Wnt5a administration to immature cultured cortical neurons specifically promoted axonal, but not dendritic, outgrowth. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of the CaMKK-CaMKIα pathway abolished Wnt5a-induced axonal elongation, and rescue of CaMKIα in CaMKIα-knockdown neurons restored Wnt5a-mediated axon outgrowth.

Conclusions

This study suggests that Wnt5a activates Ca²⁺ signaling during a neuronal morphogenetic time window when axon outgrowth is critically facilitated. Furthermore, the CaMKK-CaMKIα cascade is required for the axonal growth effect of Wnt5a during neuronal polarization.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13041-016-0189-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Neuronal development and axon growth are altered by glyphosate through a WNT non-canonical signaling pathway

The growth and morphological differentiation of neurons are critical events in the establishment of proper neuronal connectivity and functioning. The developing nervous system is highly susceptible to damage caused by exposure to environmental contaminants. Glyphosate-containing herbicides are the most used agrochemicals in the world, particularly on genetically modified plants. Previous studies have demonstrated that glyphosate induces neurotoxicity in mammals. Therefore, its action mechanism on the nervous system needs to be determined. In this study, we report about impaired neuronal development caused by glyphosate exposure. Particularly, we observed that the initial axonal differentiation and growth of cultured neurons is affected by glyphosate since most treated cells remained undifferentiated after 1 day in culture. Although they polarized at 2 days in vitro, they elicited shorter and unbranched axons and they also developed less complex dendritic arbors compared to controls. To go further, we attempted to identify the cellular mechanism by which glyphosate affected neuronal morphology. Biochemical approaches revealed that glyphosate led to a decrease in Wnt5a level, a key factor for the initial neurite development and maturation, as well as inducing a down-regulation of CaMKII activity. This data suggests that the morphological defects would likely be a consequence of the decrease in both Wnt5a expression and CaMKII activity induced by glyphosate. Additionally, these changes might be reflected in a subsequent neuronal dysfunction. Therefore, our findings highlight the importance of establishing rigorous control on the use of glyphosate-based herbicides in order to protect mammals' health.

The Ambiguous Relationship of Oxidative Stress, Tau Hyperphosphorylation, and Autophagy Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The pathological hallmarks of AD are amyloid plaques [aggregates of amyloid-beta (Aβ)] and neurofibrillary tangles (aggregates of tau). Growing evidence suggests that tau accumulation is pathologically more relevant to the development of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in AD patients than Aβ plaques. Oxidative stress is a prominent early event in the pathogenesis of AD and is therefore believed to contribute to tau hyperphosphorylation. Several studies have shown that the autophagic pathway in neurons is important under physiological and pathological conditions. Therefore, this pathway plays a crucial role for the degradation of endogenous soluble tau. However, the relationship between oxidative stress, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, autophagy dysregulation, and neuronal cell death in AD remains unclear. Here, we review the latest progress in AD, with a special emphasis on oxidative stress, tau hyperphosphorylation, and autophagy. We also discuss the relationship of these three factors in AD.

Tau co-organizes dynamic microtubule and actin networks

The crosstalk between microtubules and actin is essential for cellular functions. However, mechanisms underlying the microtubule-actin organization by cross-linkers remain largely unexplored. Here, we report that tau, a neuronal microtubule-associated protein, binds to microtubules and actin simultaneously, promoting in vitro co-organization and coupled growth of both networks. By developing an original assay to visualize concomitant microtubule and actin assembly, we show that tau can induce guided polymerization of actin filaments along microtubule tracks and growth of single microtubules along actin filament bundles. Importantly, tau mediates microtubule-actin co-alignment without changing polymer growth properties. Mutagenesis studies further reveal that at least two of the four tau repeated motifs, primarily identified as tubulin-binding sites, are required to connect microtubules and actin. Tau thus represents a molecular linker between microtubule and actin networks, enabling a coordination of the two cytoskeletons that might be essential in various neuronal contexts.

Distinct functionality of dishevelled isoforms on Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2 (CamKII) in Xenopus gastrulation

CamKII is a novel binding partner of Arrb2/Dvl2 protein complexes and is required for convergent extension movements in Xenopus. CamKII physically and functionally interacts with Dvl2, whereas CamKII activity is antagonistically modulated by Dvl1 and Dvl3.

Wnt ligands trigger the activation of a variety of β-catenin–dependent and β-catenin–independent intracellular signaling cascades. Despite the variations in intracellular signaling, Wnt pathways share the effector proteins frizzled, dishevelled, and β-arrestin. It is unclear how the specific activation of individual branches and the integration of multiple signals are achieved. We hypothesized that the composition of dishevelled–β-arrestin protein complexes contributes to signal specificity and identified CamKII as an interaction partner of the dishevelled–β-arrestin protein complex by quantitative functional proteomics. Specifically, we found that CamKII isoforms interact differentially with the three vertebrate dishevelled proteins. Dvl1 is required for the activation of CamKII and PKC in the Wnt/Ca²⁺ pathway. However, CamKII interacts with Dvl2 but not with Dvl1, and Dvl2 is necessary to mediate CamKII function downstream of Dvl1 in convergent extension movements in Xenopus gastrulation. Our findings indicate that the different Dvl proteins and the composition of dishevelled–β-arrestin protein complexes contribute to the specific activation of individual branches of Wnt signaling.

Microtubule dynamics in axon guidance

Precise modulation of the cytoskeleton is involved in a variety of cellular processes including cell division, migration, polarity, and adhesion. In developing post-mitotic neurons, extracellular guidance cues not only trigger signaling cascades that act at a distance to indirectly regulate microtubule distribution, and assembly and disassembly in the growth cone, but also directly modulate microtubule stability and dynamics through coupling of guidance receptors with microtubules to control growth-cone turning. Microtubule-associated proteins including classical microtubule-associated proteins and microtubule plus-end tracking proteins are required for modulating microtubule dynamics to influence growth-cone steering. Multiple key signaling components, such as calcium, small GTPases, glycogen synthase kinase-3β, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, link upstream signal cascades to microtubule stability and dynamics in the growth cone to control axon outgrowth and projection. Understanding the functions and regulation of microtubule dynamics in the growth cone provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of axon guidance.

Axon guidance and injury-lessons from Wnts and Wnt signaling

Many studies in the past decade have revealed the role and mechanisms of Wnt signaling in axon guidance during development and the reinduction of Wnt signaling in adult central nervous system axons upon traumatic injury, which has profound influences on axon regeneration. With 19 Wnts and 14 known receptors (10 Frizzleds (Fzds), Ryk, Ror1/2 and PTK7), the Wnt family signaling proteins contribute significantly to the wiring specificity of the complex brain and spinal cord circuitry. Subsequent investigation into the signaling mechanisms showed that conserved cell polarity pathways mediate growth cone steering. These cell polarity pathways may unveil general principles of growth cone guidance. The reappeared Wnt signaling system after spinal cord injury limits the regrowth of both descending and ascending motor and sensory axons. Therefore, the knowledge of Wnt signaling mechanisms learned from axon development can be applied to axon repair in adulthood.

Tau interconverts between diffusive and stable populations on the microtubule surface in an isoform and lattice specific manner

It has been demonstrated that Tau exists on the microtubule lattice in both diffusing and static populations, but how this may relate to Tau function is currently unclear. Tau isoforms are developmentally regulated and have been shown to have disparate effects on microtubule polymerization, the ability to bind microtubules, and the ability to inhibit kinesin. It has also been shown that Tau is sensitive to microtubule stabilizing agents and the ability to affect the persistence length of microtubules and to inhibit kinesin can be altered by stabilizing microtubules with various nucleotide analogs. Given these observations, it is likely the behavior of Tau is dictated by both the isoform of Tau and by structural changes in the microtubule lattice. In the present study, we use single molecule imaging to examine the behavior of the three-repeat short (3RS) isoform and the four-repeat long (4RL) isoform on different microtubule tracks stabilized with either paclitaxel or guanylyl-(α,β)-methylene-diphosphate (GMPCPP). On paclitaxel-stabilized microtubules, we find 3RS-Tau favors the static conformation and forms complexes consisting of 2-3 molecules, while 4RL-Tau predominantly exists as a single molecule equally distributed between the static and diffusing populations. However, on GMPCPP-stabilized microtubules both isoforms favor the diffusing conformation and do not form static complexes composed of more than one Tau molecule. We find both isoforms of Tau interconvert between static and diffusing populations on the microtubule surface, and the equilibrium between these two states depends on both the isoform of Tau and the structure of the underlying microtubule lattice.