A Hierarchical NGF Signaling Cascade Controls Ret-Dependent and Ret-Independent Events during Development of Nonpeptidergic DRG Neurons

Wenqin Luo, S. Rasika Wickramasinghe, Joseph M. Savitt, John W. Griffin, Ted M. Dawson, David D. Ginty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

176 Scopus citations

Abstract

NGF controls survival, differentiation, and target innervation of both peptidergic and nonpeptidergic DRG sensory neurons. The common receptor for GDNF family ligands, Ret, is highly expressed in nonpeptidergic neurons, but its function during development of these neurons is unclear. Here, we show that expression of Ret and its coreceptors GFRα1 and GFRα2 is dependent on NGF. GFR/Ret signaling, in turn, autoregulates expression of both GFRα1 and GFRα2 and promotes expression of TrpA1, MrgA1, MrgA3, and MrgB4, acquisition of normal neuronal size, axonal innervation of the epidermis, and postnatal extinction of the NGF receptor TrkA. Moreover, NGF controls expression of several other genes characteristic of nonpeptidergic neurons, such as TrpC3, TrpM8, MrgD, and the transcription factor Runx1, via a Ret-independent signaling pathway. These findings support a model in which NGF controls maturation of nonpeptidergic DRG neurons through a combination of GFR/Ret-dependent and -independent signaling pathways.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)739-754
Number of pages16
JournalNeuron
Volume54
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 7 2007

Keywords

  • CELLBIO
  • DEVBIO
  • SIGNALING

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Hierarchical NGF Signaling Cascade Controls Ret-Dependent and Ret-Independent Events during Development of Nonpeptidergic DRG Neurons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this