Folate regulation of axonal regeneration in the rodent central nervous system through DNA methylation.
Published
Journal Article
The folate pathway plays a crucial role in the regeneration and repair of the adult CNS after injury. Here, we have shown in rodents that such repair occurs at least in part through DNA methylation. In animals with combined spinal cord and sciatic nerve injury, folate-mediated CNS axon regeneration was found to depend on injury-related induction of the high-affinity folate receptor 1 (Folr1). The activity of folate was dependent on its activation by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (Dhfr) and a functional methylation cycle. The effect of folate on the regeneration of afferent spinal neurons was biphasic and dose dependent and correlated closely over its dose range with global and gene-specific DNA methylation and with expression of both the folate receptor Folr1 and the de novo DNA methyltransferases. These data implicate an epigenetic mechanism in CNS repair. Folic acid and possibly other nontoxic dietary methyl donors may therefore be useful in clinical interventions to promote brain and spinal cord healing. If indeed the benefit of folate is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms that promote endogenous axonal regeneration, this provides possible avenues for new pharmacologic approaches to treating CNS injuries.
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Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Iskandar, BJ; Rizk, E; Meier, B; Hariharan, N; Bottiglieri, T; Finnell, RH; Jarrard, DF; Banerjee, RV; Skene, JHP; Nelson, A; Patel, N; Gherasim, C; Simon, K; Cook, TD; Hogan, KJ
Published Date
- May 2010
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 120 / 5
Start / End Page
- 1603 - 1616
PubMed ID
- 20424322
Pubmed Central ID
- 20424322
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1558-8238
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1172/JCI40000
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States