Expression and Function of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule during Limb Regeneration

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 83; no. 21; pp. 8395 - 8399
• Main Authors: Maier, C. Eberhardt, Watanabe, Michiko, Singer, Marcus, McQuarrie, Irvine G., Sunshine, Jeffrey, Rutishauser, Urs
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 01-11-1986; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Amputation; Animals; Antibodies; Antigens, Surface - analysis; Antigens, Surface - immunology; Antigens, Surface - physiology; Axons; Axons - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cell Communication; Cell differentiation, maturation, development, hematopoiesis; Cell physiology; Chondrocytes; Extremities - analysis; Extremities - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Limb buds; Molecular and cellular biology; Nerves; Neural cell adhesion molecules; Neurons; Regeneration; Salamandridae; Schwann cells; Regeneration; Vertebrata; Neuron; Cell-cell interaction; Animal; Limb; Amphibia; Running; Mesenchyma; Axon; Gene expression; Adhesion
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.83.21.8395

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) has been detected in regenerating limb bud of adult newts in addition to brain and peripheral nerves. In the regenerating tissue, NCAM was found primarily on mesenchymal cells and also in wound epidermis. Infusion of Fab fragments of antibodies to NCAM into limb buds at the early blastema stage delayed the regenerative process. Previous studies have indicated that NCAM serves as a homophilic ligand for adhesion among cells that express this molecule and, in doing so, can influence the interaction of nerves with their environment. The expression of NCAM in regenerating limb and the effects of antibody infusion are therefore consistent with the observation that limb regeneration requires interactions among axons and mesenchymal cells.