Frontiers in Neurology (May 2020)

Loss of highwire Protects Against the Deleterious Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury in Drosophila Melanogaster

  • Ciaran S. Hill,
  • Ciaran S. Hill,
  • Jemeen Sreedharan,
  • Jemeen Sreedharan,
  • Andrea Loreto,
  • David K. Menon,
  • David K. Menon,
  • Michael P. Coleman,
  • Michael P. Coleman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00401
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Traumatic brain injury is a major global cause of death and disability. Axonal injury is a major underlying mechanism of TBI and could represent a major therapeutic target. We provide evidence that targeting the axonal death pathway known as Wallerian degeneration improves outcome in a Drosophila Melanogaster model of high impact trauma. This cell-autonomous neurodegenerative pathway is initiated following axon injury, and in Drosophila, involves activity of the E3 ubiquitin ligase highwire. We demonstrate that a loss-of-function mutation in the highwire gene rescues deleterious effects of a traumatic injury, including—improved functional outcomes, lifespan, survival of dopaminergic neurons, and retention of synaptic proteins. This data suggests that highwire represents a potential therapeutic target in traumatic injury.

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