Hm-MyD88 and Hm-SARM: two key regulators of the neuroimmune system and neural repair in the medicinal leech

Sci Rep. 2015 Apr 16:5:9624. doi: 10.1038/srep09624.

Abstract

Unlike mammals, the CNS of the medicinal leech can regenerate damaged neurites, thus restoring neural functions after lesion. We previously demonstrated that the injured leech nerve cord is able to mount an immune response promoting the regenerative processes. Indeed neurons and microglia express sensing receptors like Hm-TLR1, a leech TLR ortholog, associated with chemokine release in response to a septic challenge or lesion. To gain insights into the TLR signaling pathways involved during these neuroimmune responses, members of the MyD88 family were investigated. In the present study, we report the characterization of Hm-MyD88 and Hm-SARM. The expression of their encoding gene was strongly regulated in leech CNS not only upon immune challenge but also during CNS repair, suggesting their involvement in both processes. This work also showed for the first time that differentiated neurons of the CNS could respond to LPS through a MyD88-dependent signalling pathway, while in mammals, studies describing the direct effect of LPS on neurons and the outcomes of such treatment are scarce and controversial. In the present study, we established that this PAMP induced the relocalization of Hm-MyD88 in isolated neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / classification
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hirudo medicinalis / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Microglia / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / classification
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / genetics
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism*
  • Nerve Regeneration
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Toll-Like Receptor 1 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Toll-Like Receptor 1

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KM233119
  • GENBANK/KM233120
  • GENBANK/KM233121
  • GENBANK/KM233122