NgR acts as an inhibitor to axonal regeneration in adults

Abstract

After injury to the central nervous system (CNS) in adults, axonal regeneration is confined, in part, by the inhibitory factors in CNS myelin, including Nogo-A protein, myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein (OMGP). These proteins, all bind to the same neuronal glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored receptors (NgR), and transduce inhibitory signals to cells by the transmembrane co-receptor, p75. The final outcome of this event is inhibition of axonal regeneration and recovery of locomotion. Based on these findings, one avenue for promotion of axonal regeneration is by virtue of blocking the inhibitory effects of NgR.