Transcriptomic Approaches to Neural Repair

The inability of adult CNS neurons to regenerate axons after injury is a major challenge. Understanding the biological mechanisms shaping the injured nervous system is crucial for developing therapies to promote neural repair. Transcriptomic approaches, which involve high-throughput interrogation of gene expression, are being used to discover novel molecular mechanisms for neural repair. These methods provide a comprehensive view of the complex biology governing axon regeneration. This review highlights current work using transcriptomic approaches to identify regulatory networks in the injured nervous system. It discusses analytical strategies for transcriptomics data, the significance of noncoding RNA networks, and the utility of multiomic data integration.

• 1
  RNA-Seq technology improves the ability to understand gene expression network regulation, because it can identify isoform-specific gene regulators. This allows defining precise transcription start sites and 3' untranslated regions for each differentially expressed isoform.
• 2
  CREB serves as an important hub for regeneration, but physiological activation of CREB after injury is insufficient to recruit the network needed to promote robust regeneration. AP-1-controlled genes cooperate with other CREB targets to stimulate regeneration.
• 3
  Activation of a core transcriptional network, involving interactions between multiple transcription factors, coordinates gene expression to promote axon regeneration after peripheral nerve injury. This network can be targeted by small molecules to promote regeneration in CNS neurons.