NGF signaling from clathrin-coated vesicles: evidence that signaling endosomes serve as a platform for the Ras-MAPK pathway.

The target-derived neurotrophic factor "nerve growth factor" (NGF) signals through TrkA to promote the survival, differentiation, and maintenance of neurons. How the NGF signal in axon terminals is conveyed to the cell body is unknown. The "signaling endosome hypothesis" envisions that NGF-TrkA complexes are internalized at the axon terminal and retrogradely transported to the cell body. Following NGF treatment, we found that clathrin-coated vesicles contained NGF bound to TrkA together with activated signaling proteins of the Ras-MAP kinase pathway. Evidence that these vesicles could signal was their ability in vitro to activate Elk, a downstream target of Erk1/2. Our results point to the existence of a population of signaling endosomes derived from clathrin-coated membranes in NGF-treated cells.     

Evidence in support of signaling endosome-based retrograde survival of sympathetic neurons

The mechanism by which target-derived Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) signaling is propagated retrogradely, over extremely long distances, to cell bodies to support survival of neurons is unclear. Here we show that survival of sympathetic neurons supported by NGF on distal axons requires the kinase activity of the NGF receptor, TrkA, in both distal axons and cell bodies. In contrast, disruption of TrkA activity exclusively in proximal axonal segments affects neither retrograde NGF-TrkA signaling in cell bodies nor neuronal survival. Ligand-receptor internalization is necessary for survival of neurons supported by NGF on distal axons. Furthermore, antibody neutralization experiments indicate that retrogradely transported NGF, within cell bodies, is critical for neuronal survival but not for growth of distal axons. Taken together, our results indicate that retrogradely transported NGF-TrkA complexes promote sympathetic neuron survival.     

Recruitment of actin modifiers to TrkA endosomes governs retrograde NGF signaling and survival

The neurotrophins NGF and NT3 collaborate to support development of sympathetic neurons. Although both promote axonal extension via the TrkA receptor, only NGF activates retrograde transport of TrkA endosomes to support neuronal survival. Here, we report that actin depolymerization is essential for initiation of NGF/TrkA endosome trafficking and that?a Rac1-cofilin signaling module associated with TrkA early endosomes supports their maturation to retrograde transport-competent endosomes. These actin-regulatory endosomal components are absent from NT3/TrkA endosomes, explaining the failure of NT3 to support retrograde TrkA transport and survival. The inability of NT3 to activate Rac1-GTP-cofilin signaling is likely due to the labile nature of NT3/TrkA complexes within the acidic environment of TrkA early endosomes. Thus, TrkA endosomes associate with actin-modulatory proteins to promote F-actin disassembly, enabling their maturation into transport-competent signaling endosomes. Differential control of this process explains how NGF but not NT3 supports retrograde survival of sympathetic neurons.     

NGF signaling in sensory neurons: evidence that early endosomes carry NGF retrograde signals

Target-derived NGF promotes the phenotypic maintenance of mature dorsal root ganglion (DRG) nociceptive neurons. Here, we provide in vivo and in vitro evidence for the presence within DRG neurons of endosomes containing NGF, activated TrkA, and signaling proteins of the Rap1/Erk1/2, p38MAPK, and PI3K/Akt pathways. Signaling endosomes were shown to be retrogradely transported in the isolated sciatic nerve in vitro. NGF injection in the peripheral target of DRG neurons increased the retrograde transport of p-Erk1/2, p-p38, and pAkt in these membranes. Conversely, NGF antibody injections decreased the retrograde transport of p-Erk1/2 and p-p38. Our results are evidence that signaling endosomes, with the characteristics of early endosomes, convey NGF signals from the target of nociceptive neurons to their cell bodies.     

Colloquium 10: 3

Previous work has shown that neurotrophins bind to and activate Trk receptors on distal axons, and that neurotrophin‐Trk complexes are internalized and retrogradely transported to cell bodies. Whether retrograde transport of neurotrophins and retrograde neurotrophin‐Trk signalling are necessary for survival remains unclear, and recently published findings are controversial. We are using compartmentalized cultures of sympathetic neurons to address the mechanism of retrograde NGF signalling and survival. We performed survival experiments using either the Trk kinase inhibitor K252a to inhibit TrkA activity in different cellular compartments, or a dominant‐negative form of dynamin, K44A dynamin, to block internalization of NGF‐TrkA complexes. We found that sympathetic neurons supported by NGF acting on distal axons undergo apoptosis when TrkA activity in either cell bodies or distal axons is inhibited by K252a, or when internalization is blocked by K44A dynamin. Results of experiments employing three‐compartment chambers indicate that TrkA signalling is required within cell bodies and distal axons, but not in proximal axons, for retrograde support of survival. Likewise, TrkA activity within distal axons, but not in proximal axons, is required for retrograde transport of [125I] NGF. Finally, peptide‐mediated delivery of affinity‐purified anti‐NGF into cell bodies results in apoptosis of neurons. Taken together, our results support a model in which NGF internalization and retrograde transport and retrograde TrkA signalling are necessary for survival of sympathetic neurons. This work is supported by the NIH and HHMI.     

On Trk for retrograde signaling.

Target-derived neurotrophins like nerve growth factor (NGF) mediate biological effects by binding to and activating Trk neurotrophin receptors at nerve terminals. The activated Trk receptors then stimulate local effects at nerve terminals, and retrograde effects at neuronal cell bodies that often reside at considerable distances from the terminals. However, the nature of the retrograde signal has been mysterious. Recent experiments suggest that the major retrograde signal required for survival and gene expression consists of activated Trk itself. Remarkably, signaling by Trk may differ at the terminal versus the neuronal cell body as a consequence of the retrograde transport mechanism, thereby allowing NGF to not only promote growth locally, but to specifically support survival and gene expression retrogradely.     

A neurotrophin signaling cascade coordinates sympathetic neuron development through differential control of TrkA trafficking and retrograde signaling

A fundamental question in developmental biology is how a limited number of growth factors and their cognate receptors coordinate the formation of tissues and organs endowed with enormous morphological complexity. We report that the related neurotrophins NGF and NT-3, acting through a common receptor, TrkA, are required for sequential stages of sympathetic axon growth and, thus, innervation of target fields. Yet, while NGF supports TrkA internalization and retrograde signaling from distal axons to cell bodies to promote neuronal survival, NT-3 cannot. Interestingly, final target-derived NGF promotes expression of the p75 neurotrophin receptor, in turn causing a reduction in the sensitivity of axons to intermediate target-derived NT-3. We propose that a hierarchical neurotrophin signaling cascade coordinates sequential stages of sympathetic axon growth, innervation of targets, and survival in a manner dependent on the differential control of TrkA internalization, trafficking, and retrograde axonal signaling.     

The neurotrophins BDNF, NT-3, and NGF display distinct patterns of retrograde axonal transport in peripheral and central neurons.

The pattern of retrograde axonal transport of the target-derived neurotrophic molecule, nerve growth factor (NGF), correlates with its trophic actions in adult neurons. We have determined that the NGF-related neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), are also retrogradely transported by distinct populations of peripheral and central nervous system neurons in the adult. All three 125I-labeled neurotrophins are retrogradely transported to sites previously shown to contain neurotrophin-responsive neurons as assessed in vitro, such as dorsal root ganglion and basal forebrain neurons. The patterns of transport also indicate the existence of neuronal populations that selectively transport NT-3 and/or BDNF, but not NGF, such as spinal cord motor neurons, neurons in the entorhinal cortex, thalamus, and neurons within the hippocampus itself. Our observations suggest that neurotrophins are transported by overlapping as well as distinct populations of neurons when injected into a given target field. Retrograde transport may thus be predictive of neuronal types selectively responsive to either BDNF or NT-3 in the adult, as first demonstrated for NGF.     

Signalling organelle for retrograde axonal transport of internalized neurotrophins from the nerve terminal

The retrograde axonal transport of neurotrophins occurs after receptor-mediated endocytosis into vesicles at the nerve terminal. We have been investigating the process of targeting these vesicles for retrograde transport, by examining the transport of [125I]-labelled neurotrophins from the eye to sympathetic and sensory ganglia. With the aid of confocal microscopy, we examined the phenomena further in cultures of dissociated sympathetic ganglia to which rhodamine-labelled nerve growth factor (NGF) was added. We found the label in large vesicles in the growth cone and axons. Light microscopic examination of the sympathetic nerve trunk in vivo also showed the retrogradely transported material to be sporadically located in large structures in the axons. Ultrastructural examination of the sympathetic nerve trunk after the transport of NGF bound to gold particles showed the label to be concentrated in relatively few large organelles that consisted of accumulations of multivesicular bodies. These results suggest that in vivo NGF is transported in specialized organelles that require assembly in the nerve terminal.     

Spatially and functionally distinct roles of the PI3-K effector pathway during NGF signaling in sympathetic neurons

NGF is a target-derived growth factor for developing sympathetic neurons. Here, we show that application of NGF exclusively to distal axons of sympathetic neurons leads to an increase in PI3-K signaling in both distal axons and cell bodies. In addition, there is a more critical dependence on PI3-K for survival of neurons supported by NGF acting exclusively on distal axons as compared to neurons supported by NGF acting directly on cell bodies. Interestingly, PI3-K signaling within both cell bodies and distal axons contributes to survival of neurons. The requirement for PI3-K signaling in distal axons for survival may be explained by the finding that inhibition of PI3-K in the distal axons attenuates retrograde signaling. Therefore, a single TrkA effector, PI3-K, has multiple roles within spatially distinct cellular locales during retrograde NGF signaling.     

NGF and the local control of nerve terminal growth

It is generally believed that the mechanism of action of neurotrophic factors involves uptake of neurotrophic factor by nerve terminals and retrograde transport through the axon and back to the cell body where the factor exerts its neurotrophic effect. This view originated with the observation almost 20 years ago that nerve growth factor (NGF) is retrogradely transported by sympathetic axons, arriving intact at the neuronal cell bodies in sympathetic ganglia. However, experiments using compartmented cultures of rat sympathetic neurons have shown that neurite growth is a local response of neurites to NGF locally applied to them which does not directly involve mechanisms in the cell body. Recently, several NGF-related neurotrophins have been identified, and several unrelated molecules have been shown to act as neurotrophic or differentiation factors for a variety of types of neurons in the peripheral and central nervous systems. It has become clear that knowledge of the mechanisms of action of these factors will be crucial to understanding neurodegenerative diseases and the development of treatments as well as the means to repair or minimize neuronal damage after spinal injury. The concepts derived from work with NGF suggest that the site of exposure of a neuron to a neurotrophic factor is important in determining its response. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Endosome-mediated retrograde axonal transport of P2X3 receptor signals in primary sensory neurons

Neurotrophins and their receptors adopt signaling endosomes to transmit retrograde signals. However, the mechanisms of retrograde signaling for other ligand/receptor systems are poorly understood. Here, we report that the signals of the purinergic (P)2X(3) receptor, an ATP-gated ion channel, are retrogradely transported in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron axons. We found that Rab5, a small GTPase, controls the early sorting of P2X(3) receptors into endosomes, while Rab7 mediates the fast retrograde transport of P2X(3) receptors. Intraplantar injection and axonal application into the microfluidic chamber of α, β-methylene-ATP (α, β-MeATP), a P2X selective agonist, enhanced the endocytosis and retrograde transport of P2X(3) receptors. The α, β-MeATP-induced Ca(2+) influx activated a pathway comprised of protein kinase C, rat sarcoma viral oncogene and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), which associated with endocytic P2X(3) receptors to form signaling endosomes. Disruption of the lipid rafts abolished the α, β-MeATP-induced ERK phosphorylation, endocytosis and retrograde transport of P2X(3) receptors. Furthermore, treatment of peripheral axons with α, β-MeATP increased the activation level of ERK and cAMP response element-binding protein in the cell bodies of DRG neurons and enhanced neuronal excitability. Impairment of either microtubule-based axonal transport in vivo or dynein function in vitro blocked α, β-MeATP-induced retrograde signals. These results indicate that P2X(3) receptor-activated signals are transmitted via retrogradely transported endosomes in primary sensory neurons and provide a novel signaling mechanism for ligand-gated channels.     

Rapid Retrograde Tyrosine Phosphorylation of trkA and Other Proteins in Rat Sympathetic Neurons in Compartmented Cultures

According to the current theory of retrograde signaling, NGF binds to receptors on the axon terminals and is internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Vesicles with NGF in their lumina, activating receptors in their membranes, travel to the cell bodies and initiate signaling cascades that reach the nucleus. This theory predicts that the retrograde appearance of activated signaling molecules in the cell bodies should coincide with the retrograde appearance of the NGF that initiated the signals. However, we observed that NGF applied locally to distal axons of rat sympathetic neurons in compartmented cultures produced increased tyrosine phosphorylation of trkA in cell bodies/ proximal axons within 1 min. Other proximal proteins, including several apparently localized in cell bodies, displayed increased tyrosine phosphorylation within 5–15 min. However, no detectable ¹²⁵I-NGF appeared in the cell bodies/proximal axons within 30–60 min of its addition to distal axons. Even if a small, undetectable fraction of transported ¹²⁵I-NGF was internalized and loaded onto the retrograde transport system immediately after NGF application, at least 3–6 min would be required for the NGF that binds to receptors on distal axons just outside the barrier to be transported to the proximal axons just inside the barrier. Moreover, it is unlikely that the tiny fraction of distal axon trk receptors located near the barrier alone could produce a measurable retrograde trk phosphorylation even if enough time was allowed for internalization and transport of these receptors. Thus, our results provide strong evidence that NGF-induced retrograde signals precede the arrival of endocytotic vesicles containing the NGF that induced them. We further suggest that at least some components of the retrograde signal are carried by a propagation mechanism.     

Retrograde neurotrophin signaling: Trk-ing along the axon

Target-derived neurotrophins are required for the growth and survival of innervating neurons. When released by postsynaptic targets, neurotrophins bind receptors (Trks) on nerve terminals. Activated Trks signal locally within distal axons and retrogradely through long axons to distant cell bodies in order to promote gene expression and survival. Although the mechanism of retrograde neurotrophin signaling is not fully elucidated, considerable evidence supports a model in which the vesicular transport of neurotrophin-Trk complexes transmits a survival signal that involves PI3K and Erk5. Other, non-vesicular modes of retrograde signaling are likely to function in parallel. Recent studies highlight the importance of the location of stimulation as a determinant of Trk signaling. Defects in signaling from distal axons to cell bodies may be causally related to neurodegenerative disorders.     

Endocytosis and endosomes at the crossroads of regulating trafficking of axon outgrowth-modifying receptors

In neurons, many receptors must be localized correctly to axons or dendrites for proper function. During development, receptors for nerve growth and guidance are targeted to axons and localized to growth cones where receptor activation by ligands results in promotion or inhibition of axon growth. Signaling outcomes downstream of ligand binding are determined by the location, levels and residence times of receptors on the neuronal plasma membrane. Therefore, the mechanisms controlling the trafficking of these receptors are crucial to the proper wiring of circuits. Membrane proteins accumulate on the axonal surface by multiple routes, including polarized sorting in the trans Golgi network, sorting in endosomes and removal by endocytosis. Endosomes also play important roles in the signaling pathways for both growth-promoting and -inhibiting molecules: signaling endosomes derived from endocytosis are important for signaling from growth cones to cell bodies. Growth-promoting neurotrophins and growth-inhibiting Nogo-A can use EHD4/Pincher-dependent endocytosis at the growth cone for their respective retrograde signaling. In addition to retrograde transport of endosomes, anterograde transport to axons in endosomes also occurs for several receptors, including the axon outgrowth-promoting cell adhesion molecule L1/NgCAM and TrkA. L1/NgCAM also depends on EHD4/Pincher-dependent endocytosis for its axonal polarization. In this review, we will focus on receptors whose trafficking has been reported to be modulated by the EHD4/Pincher family of endosomal regulators, namely L1/NgCAM, Trk and Nogo-A. We will first summarize the pathways underlying the axonal transport of these proteins and then discuss the potential roles of EHD4/Pincher in mediating their endocytosis.     

Preparation and Maintenance of Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons in Compartmented Cultures

Neurons extend axonal processes that are far removed from the cell body to innervate target tissues, where target-derived growth factors are required for neuronal survival and function. Neurotrophins are specifically required to maintain the survival and differentiation of innervating sensory neurons but the question of how these target-derived neurotrophins communicate to the cell body of innervating neurons has been an area of active research for over 30 years. The most commonly accepted model of how neurotrophin signals reach the cell body proposes that signaling endosomes carry this signal retrogradely along the axon. In order to study retrograde transport, a culture system was originally devised by Robert Campenot, in which cell bodies are isolated from their axons. The technique of preparing these compartmented chambers for culturing sensory neurons recapitulates the selective stimulation of neuron terminals that occurs in vivo following release of target-derived neurotrophins. Retrograde signaling events that require long-range microtubule dependent retrograde transport have important implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.Download video file.^{(92M, mp4)}     

Regulation of trafficking of activated TrkA is critical for NGF-mediated functions

Upon activation by nerve growth factor (NGF), TrkA is internalized, trafficked and sorted through different endosomal compartments. Proper TrkA trafficking and sorting are crucial events as alteration of these processes hinders NGF-mediated functions. However, it is not fully known which proteins are involved in the trafficking and sorting of TrkA. Here we report that Nedd4-2 regulates the trafficking of TrkA and NGF functions in sensory neurons. Depletion of Nedd4-2 disrupts the correct sorting of activated TrkA at the early and late endosome stages, resulting in an accumulation of TrkA in these compartments and, as a result of the reduced trafficking to the degradative pathway, TrkA is either reverted to the cell surface through the recycling pathway or retrogradely transported to the cell body. In addition, Nedd4-2 depletion enhances TrkA signaling and the survival of NGF-dependent dorsal root ganglion neurons, but not those of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-dependent neurons. Furthermore, neurons from a knock-in mouse expressing a TrkA mutant that does not bind Nedd4-2 protein exhibit increased NGF-mediated signaling and cell survival. Our data indicate that TrkA trafficking and sorting are regulated by Nedd4-2 protein.