Transgenic Mice Expressing the Intracellular Domain of the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Undergo Neuronal Apoptosis

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Abstract
We have asked whether p75NTRmay play a role in neuronal apoptosis by producing transgenic mice that express the p75NTRintracellular domain within peripheral and central neurons. These animals showed profound reductions in numbers of sympathetic and peripheral sensory neurons as well as cell loss in the neocortex, where there is normally little or no p75NTRexpression. Developmental loss of facial motor neurons was not observed, but induced expression of the p75NTRintracellular domain within adult animals led to increased motor neuron death after axotomy. Biochemical analyses suggest that these effects were not attributable to a p75NTR-dependent reduction in trk activation but instead indicate that the p75NTRintracellular domain may act as a constitutive activator of signaling cascades that regulate apoptosis in both peripheral and central neurons.