Role of cell adhesions in neural development: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:43, 14 February 2013

Revision as of 12:31, 21 March 2013

Line 21:

==Adhesions role in cell migration ==

During early development, cell migration plays a crucial role in neuronal tissue organization. Although still largely under investigation, networks of highly-ordered neurons are known to be a vital component of the nervous systems communication with the body. A major mechanism of cellular migration is the translation of internal force, to the external environment. Force transmission can occur through a variety of mechanisms, though adhesion complexes between cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) are a known to be chief mechanisms of this activity.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ridley|first=Anne|title=Cell Migration: Integrating Signals from Front to Back|journal=Science|year=2003|volume=302|issue=2003|pages=1704–09|doi=10.1126/science.1092053|pmid=14657486}}</ref> Cell migration is generally classified with four cell processes:

# Leading edge protrusion

# Adhesion formation

Line 43:

===Thy-1 adhesion protein===

Thy-1 (or [[thy-1|CD90.2]]) is a membrane bound [[glycoprotein]] that has been shown to be involved in the [[axon guidance]] pathway. This protein has been shown to be highly mobile, as it contains a [[Glycophosphatidylinositol|GPI]] membrane anchor. Although much of the details are elusive, it is known that thy-1 interacts with the protein dimer integrin found on [[astrocytes]], forming aggregates that can inhibit neurite outgrowth and extension. Thy-1 has also been shown to have involvement in the [[src (gene)|src]]-family kinase pathway.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rege|first=Tanya|title=Thy-1, via its GPI anchor, modulates Src family kinase and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation and subcellular localization, and fibroblast migration, in response to thrombospondin-1/hep I|journal=Chronology|year=2006|doi=10.1016/j.yexcr.2006.07.029}}</ref> This astrocyte-neuron feedback has been proposed as a mechanism involved in CNS tissue repair post-injury, as a down regulation of thy-1 may lead to enhanced neurite outgrowth. Additional research has shown that thy-1 expression in post natal humans is elevated for several weeks. This suggests that in addition to tissue repair, thy-1 might have roles in early CNS tissue development and organization.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Herrera-Molina|first=Rodrigo|coauthors=et al|title=Astrocytic aVb3 Integrin Inhibits Neurite Outgrowth and Promotes Retraction of Neuronal Processes by Clustering Thy-1|journal=PLosPLoS ONE|year=2012|month=May|volume=7|series=3|pages=e34295}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Barker|first=Thomas|title=Thy-1 regulates fibroblast focal adhesions, cytoskeletal organization and migration through modulation of p190 RhoGAP and Rho GTPase activity|journal=Experimental Cell Research|year=2004|issue=295|pages=488–496}}</ref>

===L1 family protein===