Knocking Out Non-muscle Myosin II in Retinal Ganglion Cells Promotes Long-Distance Optic Nerve Regeneration

Xue Wei Wang, Shu Guang Yang, Chi Zhang, Ming Wen Hu, Jiang Qian, Jin Jin Ma, Yingchi Zhang, Bin Bin Yang, Yi Lan Weng, Guo Li Ming, Anish R. Kosanam, Saijilafu, Feng Quan Zhou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

In addition to altered gene expression, pathological cytoskeletal dynamics in the axon are another key intrinsic barrier for axon regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we show that knocking out myosin IIA and IIB (myosin IIA/B) in retinal ganglion cells alone, either before or after optic nerve crush, induces significant optic nerve regeneration. Combined Lin28a overexpression and myosin IIA/B knockout lead to an additive promoting effect and long-distance axon regeneration. Immunostaining, RNA sequencing, and western blot analyses reveal that myosin II deletion does not affect known axon regeneration signaling pathways or the expression of regeneration-associated genes. Instead, it abolishes the retraction bulb formation and significantly enhances the axon extension efficiency. The study provides clear evidence that directly targeting neuronal cytoskeleton is sufficient to induce significant CNS axon regeneration and that combining altered gene expression in the soma and modified cytoskeletal dynamics in the axon is a promising approach for long-distance CNS axon regeneration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number107537
Pages (from-to)107537
JournalCell Reports
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 21 2020

Keywords

  • Lin28
  • axon regeneration
  • cytoskeleton
  • growth cone
  • non-muscle myosin II
  • optic nerve regeneration
  • post-injury treatment
  • retinal ganglion cells
  • retraction bulb

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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