Meeting Abstract
Our overall research goal is to identify cellular and molecular events triggered following injury within the central nervous system (CNS) that promote regeneration and recovery of function versus deterioration. Studies of wound healing and regenerative processes in Lumbriculus variegatus provide an opportunity to identify signaling pathways triggered following wound formation in a system that is committed to successful regeneration and recovery of function. We have carried out broad screens for protein markers associated with regeneration, such as beta-catenin. Initial analysis highlights β-catenin expression within regenerating head tissue 24hrs post-amputation, diminishing after 1 week. Immunohistochemical analysis also highlights the expression of β-catenin within the ventral nerve cord with visible up regulation in the lateral giant fibers as well as in smaller intermediate giant fibers which run the length of the nerve cord. Beta-catenin intensity within the ventral nerve cord increases 24 hours post amputation in both anterior and posterior fragments and is sustained up to 1 week. Currently, we present a study where beta catenin is overexpressed through treatment with the GSK inhibitor, alsterpaullone. Preliminary data suggests a reduction in recovery of behaviors associated with anterior segments, despite regeneration of head segments. While we continue to investigate the proteomic profiles of regenerating worm fragments, it is of great interest that we determine the role β-catenin, an armadillo protein involved in activating cell-specific transcription factors in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.
