Transcriptomic Approaches to Neural Repair.

TitleTranscriptomic Approaches to Neural Repair.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsDulin JN, Antunes-Martins A, Chandran V, Costigan M, Lerch JK, Willis DE, Tuszynski MH
JournalJ Neurosci
Volume35
Issue41
Pagination13860-7
Date Published2015 Oct 14
ISSN1529-2401
KeywordsAnimals, Central Nervous System Diseases, Gene Expression Profiling, Humans, Nerve Regeneration, Transcriptome
Abstract

UNLABELLED: Understanding why adult CNS neurons fail to regenerate their axons following injury remains a central challenge of neuroscience research. A more complete appreciation of the biological mechanisms shaping the injured nervous system is a crucial prerequisite for the development of robust therapies to promote neural repair. Historically, the identification of regeneration associated signaling pathways has been impeded by the limitations of available genetic and molecular tools. As we progress into an era in which the high-throughput interrogation of gene expression is commonplace and our knowledge base of interactome data is rapidly expanding, we can now begin to assemble a more comprehensive view of the complex biology governing axon regeneration. Here, we highlight current and ongoing work featuring transcriptomic approaches toward the discovery of novel molecular mechanisms that can be manipulated to promote neural repair.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Transcriptional profiling is a powerful technique with broad applications in the field of neuroscience. Recent advances such as single-cell transcriptomics, CNS cell type-specific and developmental stage-specific expression libraries are rapidly enhancing the power of transcriptomics for neuroscience applications. However, extracting biologically meaningful information from large transcriptomic datasets remains a formidable challenge. This mini-symposium will highlight current work using transcriptomic approaches to identify regulatory networks in the injured nervous system. We will discuss analytical strategies for transcriptomics data, the significance of noncoding RNA networks, and the utility of multiomic data integration. Though the studies featured here specifically focus on neural repair, the approaches highlighted in this mini-symposium will be of broad interest and utility to neuroscientists working in diverse areas of the field.

DOI10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2599-15.2015
Alternate JournalJ. Neurosci.
PubMed ID26468186
PubMed Central IDPMC4604224
Grant ListK99 NR010797 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
R00 NR010797 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
R01 NS074430 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
NR-010797 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States