Molecular neurobiology
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Molecular neurobiology · May 2019
Targeting Axon Integrity to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is an irreversible off-target adverse effect of many chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel, yet its mechanism is poorly understood and no preventative measure is available. CIPN is characterized by peripheral nerve damages resulting in permanent sensory function deficits. Our recent unbiased genome-wide analysis revealed that heat shock protein (Hsp) 27 is part of a transcriptional network induced by axonal injury and highly enriched for genes involved in adaptive neuronal responses, particularly axonal regeneration. ⋯ Strikingly, hHsp27 protected against paclitaxel-induced neurotoxicity in vivo including degeneration of afferent nerve fibers, demyelination, mitochondrial swelling, apoptosis, and restored sensory nerve action potential. Finally, we delineated signaling cascades that link CIPN development to caspase 3 and RhoA/cofilin activation in sensory neurons and peripheral nerves. hHsp27 exerted anti-apoptotic effect and maintained axon integrity by restoring caspase 3 and RhoA expression to basal levels. Taken together, our data suggest that by preventing axonal degeneration might prove beneficial as anti-CIPN drugs, which represents an emerging research area for therapeutic development.