Serum response factor modulates neuron survival during peripheral axon injury

• Main Authors: Stern Sina, Sinske Daniela, Knöll Bernd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-04-01
• Series: Journal of Neuroinflammation
• Subjects: Facial nerve; Immune cell; Motorneuron; Regeneration; SRF; Axon; Microglia
• Online Access: http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/9/1/78

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The transcription factor SRF (serum response factor) mediates neuronal survival <it>in vitro</it>. However, data available so far suggest that SRF is largely dispensable for neuron survival during physiological brain function.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Here, we demonstrate that upon neuronal injury, that is facial nerve transection, constitutively-active SRF-VP16 enhances motorneuron survival. SRF-VP16 suppressed active caspase 3 abundance <it>in vitro</it> and enhanced neuron survival upon camptothecin induced apoptosis. Following nerve fiber injury <it>in vitro</it>, SRF-VP16 improved survival of neurons and re-growth of severed neurites. Further, SRF-VP16 enhanced immune responses (that is microglia and T cell activation) associated with neuronal injury <it>in vivo.</it> Genome-wide transcriptomics identified target genes associated with axonal injury and modulated by SRF-VP16.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In sum, this is a first report describing a neuronal injury-related survival function for SRF.</p>