MHCI promotes developmental synapse elimination and aging-related synapse loss at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction.

ABSTRACT: Synapse elimination at the developing neuromuscular junction (NMJ) sculpts motor circuits, and synapse loss at the aging NMJ drives motor impairments that are a major cause of loss of independence in the elderly. Here we provide evidence that at the NMJ, both developmental synapse elimination and aging-related synapse loss are promoted by specific immune proteins, members of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI). MHCI is expressed at the developing NMJ, and three different methods of reducing MHCI function all disrupt synapse elimination during the second postnatal week, leaving some muscle fibers multiply-innervated, despite otherwise outwardly normal synapse formation and maturation. Conversely, overexpressing MHCI modestly accelerates developmental synapse elimination. MHC

SUBMITTER: Tetruashvily MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5813483 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature