Upregulation of EphA Receptor Expression in the Injured Adult Rat Spinal Cord

After spinal cord injury (SCI), the inability of supraspinal neurons to regenerate or reform functional connections is likely due to proteins in the surrounding microenvironment restricting regeneration. EphAs are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases that are involved in axonal guidance during deve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell transplantation 2002-04, Vol.11 (3), p.229-239
Main Authors: Willson, Christopher A., Irizarry-Ramírez, Margarita, Gaskins, Hope E., Cruz-Orengo, Lillian, Figueroa, Johnny D., Whittemore, Scott R., Miranda, Jorge D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Ephrins - metabolism
Female
Immunohistochemistry
Protein Isoforms - genetics
Protein Isoforms - metabolism
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Eph Family - genetics
Receptors, Eph Family - metabolism
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Spinal Cord - metabolism
Spinal Cord - pathology
Spinal Cord Injuries - metabolism
Up-Regulation
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Summary:After spinal cord injury (SCI), the inability of supraspinal neurons to regenerate or reform functional connections is likely due to proteins in the surrounding microenvironment restricting regeneration. EphAs are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases that are involved in axonal guidance during development. These receptors and their ligands, the Ephrins, act via repulsive mechanisms to guide growing axons towards their appropriate targets and allow for the correct developmental connections to be made. In the present study, we investigated whether EphA receptor expression changed after a thoracic contusion SCI. Our results indicate that several EphA molecules are upregulated after SCI. Using semiquantitative RT-PCR to investigate mRNA expression after SCI, we found that EphA3, A4, and A7 mRNAs were upregulated. EphA3, A4, A6, and A8 receptor immunoreactivity increased in the ventrolateral white matter (VWM) at the injury epicenter. EphA7 had the highest level of immunoreactivity in both control and injured rat spinal cord. EphA receptor expression in the white matter originated from glial cells as coexpression in both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes was observed. In contrast, gray matter expression was localized to neurons of the ventral gray matter (motor neurons) and dorsal horn. After SCI, specific EphA receptor subtypes are upregulated and these increases may create an environment that is unfavorable for neurite outgrowth and functional regeneration.
ISSN:0963-6897
1555-3892
DOI:10.3727/096020198389997