Inhibiting glycosaminoglycan chain polymerization decreases the inhibitory activity of astrocyte-derived chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans.

ABSTRACT: Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are upregulated in the CNS after injury and participate in the inhibition of axon regeneration mainly through their glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains. In the present study, we have identified a new way to alleviate the inhibition of axonal regeneration by CSPG GAGs. We have successfully decreased the amount of CSPG GAG produced by astrocytes by targeting chondroitin polymerizing factor (ChPF), a key enzyme in the CSPG biosynthetic pathway. Using short interfering RNA (siRNA), we reduced ChPF mRNA levels by 70% in both the Neu7 astrocyte cell line and primary rat astrocytes. This reduction leads to a decrease in ChPF protein levels and a reduced amount of CSPG GAG chains in the conditioned media (CM) of these cells. Secretion of neurocan by primar

SUBMITTER: Laabs TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6673453 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature