Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2021, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (10): 1950-1957.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.308074

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Axonal mRNA localization and local translation in neurodegenerative disease

Jin-Xin Lu1, #, Yang Wang1, 2, #, Yi-Jie Zhang1, #, Mei-Fen Shen1, Hai-Ying Li1, *, Zheng-Quan Yu1, *, Gang Chen1#br#   

  1. 1Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China; 2Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • Online:2021-10-15 Published:2021-03-18
  • Contact: Haiying Li, MD, lhy1015@suda.edu.cn; Zhengquan Yu, MD, ahsz_neurosurgery@163.com.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 81830036 (to GC), 81771255 (to GC), 81771254 (to HYL), 81971106 (to ZQY); Project of Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Team, No. CXTDA2017003 (to GC); Jiangsu Provincial Medical Youth Talent, No. QNRC2016728 (to HYL); the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No. BK20170363 (to HYL); Gusu Health Personnel Training Project, No. GSWS2019030 (to HYL).

Abstract: The regulation of mRNA localization and local translation play vital roles in the maintenance of cellular structure and function. Many human neurodegenerative diseases, such as fragile X syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and spinal muscular atrophy, have been characterized by pathological changes in neuronal axons, including abnormal mRNA translation, the loss of protein expression, or abnormal axon transport. Moreover, the same protein and mRNA molecules have been associated with variable functions in different diseases due to differences in their interaction networks. In this review, we briefly examine fragile X syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and spinal muscular atrophy, with a focus on disease pathogenesis with regard to local mRNA translation and axon transport, suggesting possible treatment directions.

Key words: Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, axonal transport, fragile X syndrome, local translation, mRNA localization, neuron, spinal muscular atrophy