Transport Dependent Damage Signaling

The balance between two factors governs the success or failure of a neuron to regenerate its axon following damage: the presence of a permissive growth environment and the intrinsic growth capacity of the damaged neuron. In mammals, axons within the peripheral nervous system can regenerate, while most central nervous system axons fail do to so, resulting in the dramatic consequences observed following spinal cord injury. Despite the identification of numerous molecules that influence regeneration, the mechanisms underlying axonal growth following injury are still poorly understood. In particular, very little is known about how information from the site of injury is communicated to the cell body. This article reviews recent findings revealing the role of microtubule-dependent axonal transport in mediating damage-induced signaling.