Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase promotes axonal growth of hippocampal neurons.

ABSTRACT: Axonal growth is essential for establishing neuronal circuits during brain development and for regenerative processes in the adult brain. Unfortunately, the extracellular signals controlling axonal growth are poorly understood. Here we report that a reduction in extracellular ATP levels by tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) is essential for the development of neuritic processes by cultured hippocampal neurons. Selective blockade of TNAP activity with levamisole or specific TNAP knockdown with short hairpin RNA interference inhibited the growth and branching of principal axons, whereas addition of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) promoted axonal growth. Neither activation nor inhibition of adenosine receptors affected the axonal growth, excluding the contribution of extracellular aden

SUBMITTER: Diez-Zaera M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3069005 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature