Nogo-A is secreted in extracellular vesicles, occurs in blood and can influence vascular permeability

Nogo-A is a transmembrane protein with multiple functions in the central nervous system (CNS), including restriction of neurite growth and synaptic plasticity. Thus far, Nogo-A has been predominantly considered a cell contact-dependent ligand signaling via cell surface receptors. Here, we show that Nogo-A can be secreted by cultured cells of neuronal and glial origin in association with extracellular vesicles (EVs). Neuron- and oligodendrocyte-derived Nogo-A containing EVs inhibited fibroblast spreading, and this effect was partially reversed by Nogo-A receptor S1PR2 blockage. EVs purified from HEK cells only inhibited fibroblast spreading upon Nogo-A over-expression. Nogo-A-containing EVs were found in vivo in the blood of healthy mice and rats, as well as in human plasma. Blood Nogo-A concentrations were elevated after acute stroke lesions in mice and rats. Nogo-A active peptides decreased barrier integrity in an in vitro blood-brain barrier model. Stroked mice showed increased dye permeability in peripheral organs when tested 2 weeks after injury. In the Miles assay, an in vivo test to assess leakage of the skin vasculature, a Nogo-A active peptide increased dye permeability. These findings suggest that blood borne, possibly EV-associated Nogo-A could exert long-range regulatory actions on vascular permeability.

Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 Knockout Screening Reveals a TSPAN3-mediated Endo-lysosome Pathway Regulating the Degradation of α-Synuclein Oligomers

Misfolding and aggregation of α-Synuclein (α-Syn), which are hallmark pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy Bodies, continue to be significant areas of research. Among the diverse forms of α-Syn - monomer, oligomer, and fibril, the oligomer is considered the most toxic. However, the mechanisms governing α-Syn oligomerization are not yet fully understood. In this study, we utilized genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function screening in human HEK293 cells to identify negative regulators of α-Syn oligomerization. We found that tetraspanin 3 (TSPAN3), a presumptive four-pass transmembrane protein, but not its homolog TSPAN7, significantly modulates α-Syn oligomer levels. TSPAN3 was observed to interact with α-Syn oligomers, regulate the amount of α-Syn oligomers on the cell membrane, and promote their degradation via the clathrin-AP2 mediated endo-lysosome pathway. Our findings highlight TSPAN3 as a potential regulator of α-Syn oligomers, presenting a promising target for future PD prevention and treatment strategies.

Tetraspanins: useful multifunction proteins for the possible design and development of small-molecule therapeutic tools

Tetraspanins constitute a well-conserved superfamily of four-span small membrane proteins (TM4SF), with >30 members in humans, with important roles in numerous mechanisms of cell biology. Moreover, tetraspanins associate with either specific partner proteins or another tetraspanin, generating a network of interactions involved in cell and membrane compartmentalization and having a role in cellular development, proliferation, activation, motility, and membrane fusions. Therefore, tetraspanins are considered regulators of cellular signaling and are often depicted as 'molecular facilitators'. In view of these many physiological functions, it is likely that these molecules are important actors in pathological processes. In this review, we present the main characteristics of this superfamily, providing a more detailed description of some significant representatives and discuss their relevance as potential targets for the design and development of small-molecule therapeutics in different pathologies.

Tetraspanin1 promotes NGF signaling by controlling TrkA receptor proteostasis

The molecular mechanisms that control the biosynthetic trafficking, surface delivery, and degradation of TrkA receptor are essential for proper nerve growth factor (NGF) function, and remain poorly understood. Here, we identify Tetraspanin1 (Tspan1) as a critical regulator of TrkA signaling and neuronal differentiation induced by NGF. Tspan1 is expressed by developing TrkA-positive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and its downregulation in sensory neurons inhibits NGF-mediated axonal growth. In addition, our data demonstrate that Tspan1 forms a molecular complex with the immature form of TrkA localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Finally, knockdown of Tspan1 reduces the surface levels of TrkA by promoting its preferential sorting towards the autophagy/lysosomal degradation pathway. Together, these data establish a novel homeostatic role of Tspan1, coordinating the biosynthetic trafficking and degradation of TrkA, regardless the presence of NGF.

TSPAN12 Is a Norrin Co-receptor that Amplifies Frizzled4 Ligand Selectivity and Signaling

Accessory proteins in Frizzled (FZD) receptor complexes are thought to determine ligand selectivity and signaling amplitude. Genetic evidence indicates that specific combinations of accessory proteins and ligands mediate vascular β-catenin signaling in different CNS structures. In the retina, the tetraspanin TSPAN12 and the ligand norrin (NDP) mediate angiogenesis, and both genes are linked to familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), yet the molecular function of TSPAN12 remains poorly understood. Here, we report that TSPAN12 is an essential component of the NDP receptor complex and interacts with FZD4 and NDP via its extracellular loops, consistent with an action as co-receptor that enhances FZD4 ligand selectivity for NDP. FEVR-linked mutations in TSPAN12 prevent the incorporation of TSPAN12 into the NDP receptor complex. In vitro and in Xenopus embryos, TSPAN12 alleviates defects of FZD4 M105V, a mutation that destabilizes the NDP/FZD4 interaction. This study sheds light on the poorly understood function of accessory proteins in FZD signaling.

Neural Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Proteins in Synaptic Specification

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins are a specialized class of lipid-associated neuronal membrane proteins that perform diverse functions in the dynamic control of axon guidance, synaptic adhesion, cytoskeletal remodeling, and localized signal transduction, particularly at lipid raft domains. Recent studies have demonstrated that a subset of GPI-anchored proteins act as critical regulators of synapse development by modulating specific synaptic adhesion pathways via direct interactions with key synapse-organizing proteins. Additional studies have revealed that alteration of these regulatory mechanisms may underlie various brain disorders. In this review, we highlight the emerging role of GPI-anchored proteins as key synapse organizers that aid in shaping the properties of various types of synapses and circuits in mammals.

Substrate properties of zebrafish Rtn4b/Nogo and axon regeneration in the zebrafish optic nerve

This study explored why lesioned retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons regenerate successfully in the zebrafish optic nerve despite the presence of Rtn4b, the homologue of the rat neurite growth inhibitor RTN4-A/Nogo-A. Rat Nogo-A and zebrafish Rtn4b possess characteristic motifs (M1-4) in the Nogo-A-specific region, which contains delta20, the most inhibitory region of rat Nogo-A. To determine whether zebrafish M1-4 is inhibitory as rat M1-4 and Nogo-A delta20, proteins were recombinantly expressed and used as substrates for zebrafish single cell RGCs, mouse hippocampal neurons and goldfish, zebrafish and chick retinal explants. When offered as homogenous substrates, neurites of hippocampal neurons and of zebrafish single cell RGCs were inhibited by zebrafish M1-4, rat M1-4, and Nogo-A delta20. Neurite length increased when zebrafish single cell RGCs were treated with receptor-type-specific antagonists and, respectively, with morpholinos (MO) against S1PR2 and S1PR5a-which represent candidate zebrafish Nogo-A receptors. In a stripe assay, however, where M1-4 lanes alternate with polylysine-(Plys)-only lanes, RGC axons from goldfish, zebrafish, and chick retinal explants avoided rat M1-4 but freely crossed zebrafish M1-4 lanes-suggesting that zebrafish M1-4 is growth permissive and less inhibitory than rat M1-4. Moreover, immunostainings and dot blots of optic nerve and myelin showed that expression of Rtn4b is very low in tissue and myelin at 3-5 days after lesion when axons regenerate. Thus, Rtn4b seems to represent no major obstacle for axon regeneration in vivo because it is less inhibitory for RGC axons from retina explants, and because of its low abundance.

Tracking Effects of SIL1 Increase: Taking a Closer Look Beyond the Consequences of Elevated Expression Level

SIL1 acts as a co-chaperone for the major ER-resident chaperone BiP and thus plays a role in many BiP-dependent cellular functions such as protein-folding control and unfolded protein response. Whereas the increase of BiP upon cellular stress conditions is a well-known phenomenon, elevation of SIL1 under stress conditions was thus far solely studied in yeast, and different studies indicated an adverse effect of SIL1 increase. This is seemingly in contrast with the beneficial effect of SIL1 increase in surviving neurons in neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Here, we addressed these controversial findings. Applying cell biological, morphological and biochemical methods, we demonstrated that SIL1 increases in various mammalian cells and neuronal tissues upon cellular stress. Investigation of heterozygous SIL1 mutant cells and tissues supported this finding. Moreover, SIL1 protein was found to be stabilized during ER stress. Increased SIL1 initiates ER stress in a concentration-dependent manner which agrees with the described adverse SIL1 effect. However, our results also suggest that protective levels are achieved by the secretion of excessive SIL1 and GRP170 and that moderately increased SIL1 also ameliorates cellular fitness under stress conditions. Our immunoprecipitation results indicate that SIL1 might act in a BiP-independent manner. Proteomic studies showed that SIL1 elevation alters the expression of proteins including crucial players in neurodegeneration, especially in Alzheimer's disease. This finding agrees with our observation of increased SIL1 immunoreactivity in surviving neurons of Alzheimer's disease autopsy cases and supports the assumption that SIL1 plays a protective role in neurodegenerative disorders.

Nogo-A regulates vascular network architecture in the postnatal brain

Recently, we discovered a new role for the well-known axonal growth inhibitory molecule Nogo-A as a negative regulator of angiogenesis in the developing central nervous system. However, how Nogo-A affected the three-dimensional (3D) central nervous system (CNS) vascular network architecture remained unknown. Here, using vascular corrosion casting, hierarchical, synchrotron radiation μCT-based network imaging and computer-aided network analysis, we found that genetic ablation of Nogo-A significantly increased the three-dimensional vascular volume fraction in the postnatal day 10 (P10) mouse brain. More detailed analysis of the cerebral cortex revealed that this effect was mainly due to an increased number of capillaries and capillary branchpoints. Interestingly, other vascular parameters such as vessel diameter, -length, -tortuosity, and -volume were comparable between both genotypes for non-capillary vessels and capillaries. Taken together, our three-dimensional data showing more vessel segments and branchpoints at unchanged vessel morphology suggest that stimulated angiogenesis upon Nogo-A gene deletion results in the insertion of complete capillary micro-networks and not just single vessels into existing vascular networks. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of how angiogenesis, vascular remodeling, and three-dimensional vessel network architecture are regulated during central nervous system development. Nogo-A may therefore be a potential novel target for angiogenesis-dependent central nervous system pathologies such as brain tumors or stroke.

The Emerging Role of Tetraspanins in the Proteolytic Processing of the Amyloid Precursor Protein

Tetraspanins are a family of ubiquitously expressed and conserved proteins, which are characterized by four transmembrane domains and the formation of a short and a large extracellular loop (LEL). Through interaction with other tetraspanins and transmembrane proteins such as growth factors, receptors and integrins, tetraspanins build a wide ranging and membrane spanning protein network. Such tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs) contribute to the formation and stability of functional signaling complexes involved in cell activation, adhesion, motility, differentiation, and malignancy. There is increasing evidence showing that the tetraspanins also regulate the proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by physically interacting with the APP secretases. CD9, CD63, CD81, Tspan12, Tspan15 are among the tetraspanins involved in the intracellular transport and in the stabilization of the gamma secretase complex or ADAM10 as the major APP alpha secretase. They also directly regulate, most likely in concert with other tetraspanins, the proteolytic function of these membrane embedded enzymes. Despite the knowledge about the interaction of tetraspanins with the secretases not much is known about their physiological role, their importance in Alzheimer's Disease and their exact mode of action. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge and open questions regarding the biology of tetraspanins and the understanding how these proteins interact with APP processing pathways. Ultimately, it will be of interest if tetraspanins are suitable targets for future therapeutical approaches.

Tetraspanin 3: A central endocytic membrane component regulating the expression of ADAM10, presenilin and the amyloid precursor protein

Despite existing knowledge about the role of the A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) as the α-secretase involved in the non-amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Notch signalling we have only limited information about its regulation. In this study, we have identified ADAM10 interactors using a split ubiquitin yeast two hybrid approach. Tetraspanin 3 (Tspan3), which is highly expressed in the murine brain and elevated in brains of Alzheimer´s disease (AD) patients, was identified and confirmed to bind ADAM10 by co-immunoprecipitation experiments in mammalian cells in complex with APP and the γ-secretase protease presenilin. Tspan3 expression increased the cell surface levels of its interacting partners and was mainly localized in early and late endosomes. In contrast to the previously described ADAM10-binding tetraspanins, Tspan3 did not affect the endoplasmic reticulum to plasma membrane transport of ADAM10. Heterologous Tspan3 expression significantly increased the appearance of carboxy-terminal cleavage products of ADAM10 and APP, whereas N-cadherin ectodomain shedding appeared unaffected. Inhibiting the endocytosis of Tspan3 by mutating a critical cytoplasmic tyrosine-based internalization motif led to increased surface expression of APP and ADAM10. After its downregulation in neuroblastoma cells and in brains of Tspan3-deficient mice, ADAM10 and APP levels appeared unaltered possibly due to a compensatory increase in the expression of Tspans 5 and 7, respectively. In conclusion, our data suggest that Tspan3 acts in concert with other tetraspanins as a stabilizing factor of active ADAM10, APP and the γ-secretase complex at the plasma membrane and within the endocytic pathway.

The Neurite Outgrowth Inhibitory Nogo-A-Δ20 Region Is an Intrinsically Disordered Segment Harbouring Three Stretches with Helical Propensity

Functional recovery from central neurotrauma, such as spinal cord injury, is limited by myelin-associated inhibitory proteins. The most prominent example, Nogo-A, imposes an inhibitory cue for nerve fibre growth via two independent domains: Nogo-A-Δ20 (residues 544-725 of the rat Nogo-A sequence) and Nogo-66 (residues 1026-1091). Inhibitory signalling from these domains causes a collapse of the neuronal growth cone via individual receptor complexes, centred around sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) for Nogo-A-Δ20 and Nogo receptor 1 (NgR1) for Nogo-66. Whereas the helical conformation of Nogo-66 has been studied extensively, only little structural information is available for the Nogo-A-Δ20 region. We used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to assess potential residual structural propensities of the intrinsically disordered Nogo-A-Δ20. Using triple resonance experiments, we were able to assign 94% of the non-proline backbone residues. While secondary structure analysis and relaxation measurements highlighted the intrinsically disordered character of Nogo-A-Δ20, three stretches comprising residues 561EAIQESL567, 639EAMNVALKALGT650, and 693SNYSEIAK700 form transient α-helical structures. Interestingly, 561EAIQESL567 is situated directly adjacent to one of the most conserved regions of Nogo-A-Δ20 that contains a binding motif for β1-integrin. Likewise, 639EAMNVALKALGT650 partially overlaps with the epitope recognized by 11C7, a Nogo-A-neutralizing antibody that promotes functional recovery from spinal cord injury. Diffusion measurements by pulse-field gradient NMR spectroscopy suggest concentration- and oxidation state-dependent dimerisation of Nogo-A-Δ20. Surprisingly, NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) data could not validate previously shown binding of extracellular loops of S1PR2 to Nogo-A-Δ20.