Identification of a critical sulfation in chondroitin that inhibits axonal regeneration

Elife. 2018 May 15:7:e37139. doi: 10.7554/eLife.37139.

Abstract

The failure of mammalian CNS neurons to regenerate their axons derives from a combination of intrinsic deficits and extrinsic factors. Following injury, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) within the glial scar inhibit axonal regeneration, an action mediated by the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains of CSPGs, especially those with 4-sulfated (4S) sugars. Arylsulfatase B (ARSB) selectively cleaves 4S groups from the non-reducing ends of GAG chains without disrupting other, growth-permissive motifs. We demonstrate that ARSB is effective in reducing the inhibitory actions of CSPGs both in in vitro models of the glial scar and after optic nerve crush (ONC) in adult mice. ARSB is clinically approved for replacement therapy in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis VI and therefore represents an attractive candidate for translation to the human CNS.

Keywords: arylsulfatase B; cell biology; cell culture; chondroitinase ABC; mouse; neuroscience; optic nerve crush; proteoglycan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / drug effects*
  • Axons / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / chemistry*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • N-Acetylgalactosamine-4-Sulfatase / administration & dosage
  • N-Acetylgalactosamine-4-Sulfatase / metabolism*
  • Optic Nerve Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Regeneration / drug effects*
  • Sulfates / metabolism*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans
  • Sulfates
  • N-Acetylgalactosamine-4-Sulfatase