Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors promote CNS axon growth through off-target effects on glia

Neurobiol Dis. 2009 Oct;36(1):142-50. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.07.016. Epub 2009 Jul 24.

Abstract

Administration of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors (e.g. AG1478/PD168393) promotes central nervous system (CNS) axon regeneration in vivo by an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that EGFR activation is not required for AG1478-/PD168393-induced neurite outgrowth in cultures of dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGN) with added inhibitory CNS myelin extract (CME), but is mediated by the paracrine and autocrine actions of the glia-/neuron-derived neurotrophins (NT) NGF, BDNF and NT-3 through Trk signalling in DRGN potentiated by elevated cAMP levels. The DRGN neurite growth seen in CME-inhibited cultures treated with AG1478 is eradicated by blocking Trk signalling but undiminished after siRNA knockdown of >90% EGFR. Moreover, addition of the combined triplet of NT restores neurite outgrowth in CME-inhibited cultures, when cAMP levels are raised. Accordingly, we suggest that chemical EGFR inhibitors act independently of EGFR, inducing glia and neurons to secrete NT and raising cAMP levels in DRG cultures, leading to Trk-dependent disinhibited DRGN neurite outgrowth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Axons / drug effects*
  • Axons / physiology
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Central Nervous System / cytology
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Ganglia, Spinal / cytology
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
  • Indole Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism
  • Nerve Crush / methods
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / chemistry
  • Neuroglia / physiology*
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • S100 Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection / methods
  • Tyrphostins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Carbazoles
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Indole Alkaloids
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • PD168393
  • Quinazolines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • S100 Proteins
  • Tyrphostins
  • RTKI cpd
  • staurosporine aglycone
  • Cyclic AMP
  • ErbB Receptors