RUcore Resource Object
RUcore Resource Object
PDF-1(2.94 MB)
TitleRegulation of proNGF processing and its effects on p75NTR-mediated cell death following seizure
NameLe, Audrey P. (Audrey Pham) (author), Friedman, Wilma (chair), Levison, Steven (internal member), Townes-Anderson, Ellen (internal member), Lee, Francis (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - Newark,
Degree Date2011-05
Date Created2011
SubjectNeuroscience, Integrative,
Nerve growth factor,
Neurosciences
DescriptionNerve growth factor (NGF) has been known to play critical roles in neuronal survival and differentiation during development. Recent studies have
discovered that its immature form, proNGF, is a ligand for the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). proNGF binding to p75NTR activates apoptotic signaling, and
this binding occurs with a five-fold higher affinity than that of mature NGF (Lee et al., 2001). This binding preference, along with the increased prevalence of
proNGF after injury (Harrington et al., 2004), creates a cellular environment susceptible to cell death; thus, the balance between levels of pro- and mature NGF may be a key factor in determining whether a neuron lives or dies (Lee et al., 2001; Volosin et al., 2006). Using both in vitro and in vivo methods, this thesis examined the mechanisms that regulate the extracellular processing of proNGF and the consequences of that processing on p75NTR-mediated cell death following injury. The results discussed here demonstrate that 1) proNGF binding leads to cell death via the p75NTR signaling pathway; 2) after injury, proNGF is upregulated and preferentially secreted in a functional manner capable of
activating the p75NTR-mediated apoptotic pathway; 3) the enzymes plasmin and MMP7 extracellularly cleave proNGF, 4) after injury, plasmin activation and
MMP7 activity are reduced, leading to increased proNGF-induced apoptosis, and 5) restoring plasmin or MMP7 activity following brain injury reduces proNGF
levels and consequently, p75NTR-mediated apoptosis. Overall, these data suggest that increased cell death following injury may be mediated in part by a
change in the balance between extracellular proNGF and the activity of its processing enzymes, leading to increased cell death via p75NTR.
discovered that its immature form, proNGF, is a ligand for the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). proNGF binding to p75NTR activates apoptotic signaling, and
this binding occurs with a five-fold higher affinity than that of mature NGF (Lee et al., 2001). This binding preference, along with the increased prevalence of
proNGF after injury (Harrington et al., 2004), creates a cellular environment susceptible to cell death; thus, the balance between levels of pro- and mature NGF may be a key factor in determining whether a neuron lives or dies (Lee et al., 2001; Volosin et al., 2006). Using both in vitro and in vivo methods, this thesis examined the mechanisms that regulate the extracellular processing of proNGF and the consequences of that processing on p75NTR-mediated cell death following injury. The results discussed here demonstrate that 1) proNGF binding leads to cell death via the p75NTR signaling pathway; 2) after injury, proNGF is upregulated and preferentially secreted in a functional manner capable of
activating the p75NTR-mediated apoptotic pathway; 3) the enzymes plasmin and MMP7 extracellularly cleave proNGF, 4) after injury, plasmin activation and
MMP7 activity are reduced, leading to increased proNGF-induced apoptosis, and 5) restoring plasmin or MMP7 activity following brain injury reduces proNGF
levels and consequently, p75NTR-mediated apoptosis. Overall, these data suggest that increased cell death following injury may be mediated in part by a
change in the balance between extracellular proNGF and the activity of its processing enzymes, leading to increased cell death via p75NTR.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Audrey P. Le
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore10002600001.ETD.000061085
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.