Journal of neurocytology
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Journal of neurocytology · Feb 2002
ReviewThe Nogo receptor, its ligands and axonal regeneration in the spinal cord; a review.
At least three proteins present in CNS myelin, Nogo, MAG and OMgp are capable of causing growth cone collapse and inhibiting neurite outgrowth in vitro. Surprisingly, Nogo and OMgp are also strongly expressed by many neurons (including neocortical projection cells). Nogo expression is increased by some cells at the borders of CNS lesion sites and by cells in injured peripheral nerves, but Nogo and CNS myelin are largely absent from spinal cord injury sites, which are none the less strongly inhibitory to axonal regeneration. ⋯ Regeneration of corticospinal axons induced by Nogo antibodies has not yet been demonstrated after complete transections or contusion injuries of the spinal cord. It is not clear whether antibodies against Nogo act on oligodendrocytes/myelin or by binding to neuronal Nogo, or whether they can stimulate regeneration of ascending axons in the spinal cord, most of which express little or no NgR. Despite these uncertainties, however, NgR and its ligands offer important new targets for enhancing plasticity and regeneration in the nervous system.