Distinct developmental and degenerative functions of SARM1 require NAD+ hydrolase activity.

SARM1 is the founding member of the TIR-domain family of NAD+ hydrolases and the central executioner of pathological axon degeneration. SARM1-dependent degeneration requires NAD+ hydrolysis. Prior to the discovery that SARM1 is an enzyme, SARM1 was studied as a TIR-domain adaptor protein with non-degenerative signaling roles in innate immunity and invertebrate neurodevelopment, including at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Here we explore whether the NADase activity of SARM1 also contributes to developmental signaling. We developed transgenic Drosophila lines that express SARM1 variants with normal, deficient, and enhanced NADase activity and tested their function in NMJ development. We find that NMJ overgrowth scales with the amount of NADase activity, suggesting an instructive role for NAD+ hydrolysis in this developmental signaling pathway. While degenerative and developmental SARM1 signaling share a requirement for NAD+ hydrolysis, we demonstrate that these signals use distinct upstream and downstream mechanisms. These results identify SARM1-dependent NAD+ hydrolysis as a heretofore unappreciated component of developmental signaling. SARM1 now joins sirtuins and Parps as enzymes that regulate signal transduction pathways via mechanisms that involve NAD+ cleavage, greatly expanding the potential scope of SARM1 TIR NADase functions.

TRPV1 Agonist, Capsaicin, Induces Axon Outgrowth after Injury via Ca2+/PKA Signaling.

Preconditioning nerve injuries activate a pro-regenerative program that enhances axon regeneration for most classes of sensory neurons. However, nociceptive sensory neurons and central nervous system neurons regenerate poorly. In hopes of identifying novel mechanisms that promote regeneration, we screened for drugs that mimicked the preconditioning response and identified a nociceptive ligand that activates a preconditioning-like response to promote axon outgrowth. We show that activating the ion channel TRPV1 with capsaicin induces axon outgrowth of cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons, and that this effect is blocked in TRPV1 knockout neurons. Regeneration occurs only in NF200-negative nociceptive neurons, consistent with a cell-autonomous mechanism. Moreover, we identify a signaling pathway in which TRPV1 activation leads to calcium influx and protein kinase A (PKA) activation to induce a preconditioning-like response. Finally, capsaicin administration to the mouse sciatic nerve activates a similar preconditioning-like response and induces enhanced axonal outgrowth, indicating that this pathway can be induced in vivo. These findings highlight the use of local ligands to induce regeneration and suggest that it may be possible to target selective neuronal populations for repair, including cell types that often fail to regenerate.

The transcription factor NGFI-B (Nur77) and retinoids play a critical role in acute neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal effect and striatal neuropeptide gene expression.

Despite extensive investigation, the cellular mechanisms responsible for neuroleptic actions remain elusive. We have previously shown that neuroleptics modulated the expression of some members of the ligand-activated transcription factors (nuclear receptors) including the nerve-growth factor inducible gene B (NGFI-B or Nur77) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) isoforms. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we investigated the role of NGFI-B and retinoids in acute behavioral and biochemical responses to dopamine antagonists. NGFI-B knockout (KO) mice display a profound alteration of haloperidol-induced catalepsy and striatal neuropeptide gene expression. Haloperidol-induced increase of striatal enkephalin mRNA is totally abolished in NGFI-B KO mice whereas the increase of neurotensin mRNA expression is reduced by 50%. Interestingly, catalepsy induced by raclopride, a specific dopamine D(2)/D(3) antagonist is completely abolished in NGFI-B-deficient mice whereas the cataleptic response to SCH 23390, a dopamine D(1) agonist, is preserved. Accordingly, the effects of haloperidol on striatal c-fos, Nor-1, and dynorphin mRNA expression are also preserved in NGFI-B-deficient mice. The cataleptic response and the increase of enkephalin mRNA expression induced by haloperidol can also be suppressed by administration of retinoid ligands 9-cis retinoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In addition, we demonstrate that haloperidol enhances colocalization of NGFI-B and RXRgamma1 isoform mRNAs, suggesting that both NGFI-B and a RXR isoform are highly coexpressed after haloperidol administration. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, that NGFI-B and retinoids are actively involved in the molecular cascade induced by neuroleptic drugs.