The nervous system-specific leucine-rich repeat Ig-containing protein LINGO-1 is associated with the Nogo-66 receptor complex and is endowed with a canonical EGF receptor (EGFR)-like tyrosine phosphorylation site. Our studies indicate that LINGO-1 expression is elevated in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients compared with age-matched controls and in animal models of PD after neurotoxic lesions. LINGO-1 expression is present in midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the human and rodent brain. Therefore, the role of LINGO-1 in cell damage responses of DA neurons was examined in vitro and in experimental models of PD induced by either oxidative (6-hydroxydopamine) or mitochondrial (N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) toxicity. In LINGO-1 knockout mice, DA neuron survival was increased and behavioral abnormalities were reduced compared with WT. dopamine neuron ͉ substantia nigra ͉ degeneration ͉ neuroprotection ͉ axon N ew therapeutics are required that simultaneously preserve dopamine (DA) neurons and their functional connections to limit or eliminate the progression of the movement disorder of Parkinson's disease (PD) (1, 2). Several growth factors normally active in cell growth and survival during brain development have been shown to provide protection against cell death in animal models of PD (1-5). The phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3-Ks) and Akt (protein kinase B) signaling pathways have been shown to participate in such growth factor actions (1, 2, 5, 6). Recent studies also suggest that some leucine-rich repeat (LRR) Ig-containing proteins can influence growth factors by modulating EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling-related pathways (7,8). LINGO-1 is a LRR-Ig protein first identified as a critical component of the NogoR1-p75NTR complex in RhoA activation, and it is responsible for some inhibition of axonal regeneration by myelin-associated factors (9, 10). Unlike NogoR1, LINGO-1 gene expression is increased when adult nerve cells are exposed to traumatic injuries (9), indicating that LINGO-1 may be involved in cell injury responses. LRRK2, another LRR protein, was recently genetically linked to PD and Lewy body disease (11, 12). As we describe here, LINGO-1 appears to regulate neurite growth and the structural integrity of neurons, in analogy with LRRK2 (9, 13).In this study, elevated LINGO-1 levels were found after selective experimental damage to DA nerve terminals in the striatum of mice, and increased expressed levels of LINGO-1 were found in the substantia nigra (SN) of some PD patients. Using methods that reduced or eliminated the negative actions of LINGO-1, we demonstrate that midbrain DA neuron survival, growth, and function improve in primary in vitro cultures and in vivo experimental models of parkinsonism in mice. We also show that LINGO-1 normally binds to EGFR and negatively regulates the EGFR/Akt signaling pathway in cells and tissues relevant to these studies. Fig. 4 B and C). LINGO-1 is expressed in remaining DA neurons in the SN of PD patients (SI Fig. 4 A and B)....

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (CC) is a rare birth defect that occurs in isolated conditions and in combination with other developmental cerebral abnormalities. Recent identification of families of growth and guidance molecules has generated interest in the mechanisms that regulate callosal growth. One family, ephrins and Eph receptors, has been implicated in mediating midline pathfinding decisions; however, the complexity of these interactions has yet to be unraveled. Our studies shed light on which B-class ephrins and Eph receptors function to regulate CC midline growth and how these molecules interact with important guideposts during development. We show that multiple Eph receptors (B1, B2, B3, and A4) and B-class ephrins (B1, B2, and B3) are present and function in developing forebrain callosal fibers based on both spatial and temporal expression patterns and analysis of gene-targeted knock-out mice. Defects are most pronounced in the combination double knock-out mice, suggesting that compensatory mechanisms exist for several of these family members. Furthermore, these CC defects range from mild hypoplasia to complete agenesis and Probst's bundle formation. Further analysis revealed that Probst's bundle formation may reflect aberrant glial formations and/or altered sensitivity of CC axons to other guidance cues. Our results support a significant role for ephrins and Eph receptors in CC development and may provide insight to possible mechanisms involved in axon midline crossing and human disorder.