Premium
Osteonectin is a Schwann cell‐secreted factor that promotes retinal ganglion cell survival and process outgrowth
Author(s) -
Bampton Edward T. W.,
Ma Chi Him,
Tolkovsky Aviva M.,
Taylor Jeremy S. H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04128.x
Subject(s) - neurite , microbiology and biotechnology , osteonectin , biology , retinal ganglion cell , matricellular protein , nerve growth factor , neurotrophin , neurotrophic factors , retina , neuroscience , receptor , in vitro , biochemistry , extracellular matrix , enzyme , alkaline phosphatase , osteocalcin
We have investigated the factors made by Schwann cells (SCs) that stimulate survival and neurite outgrowth from postnatal rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). These effects are preserved under K252a blockade of the Trk family of neurotrophin receptors and are not fully mimicked by the action of a number of known trophic factors. To identify novel factors responsible for this regenerative activity, we have used a radiolabelling assay. Proteins made by SCs were labelled radioactively and then fed to purified RGCs. The proteins taken up by the RGCs were then isolated and further characterized. Using this assay we have identified a major 40 kDa factor taken up by RGCs, which was microsequenced and shown to be the matricellular protein osteonectin (ON). Using an in vitro assay of purified RGCs we show that ON promotes both survival and neurite outgrowth. We conclude that ON has a potential new role in promoting CNS repair.