RETRACTED ARTICLE: APP binds DR6 to trigger axon pruning and neuron death via distinct caspases

A Nikolaev, T McLaughlin, DDM O'Leary… - Nature, 2009 - nature.com
A Nikolaev, T McLaughlin, DDM O'Leary, M Tessier-Lavigne
Nature, 2009nature.com
Naturally occurring axonal pruning and neuronal cell death help to sculpt neuronal
connections during development, but their mechanistic basis remains poorly understood.
Here we report that β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and death receptor 6 (DR6, also
known as TNFRSF21) activate a widespread caspase-dependent self-destruction program.
DR6 is broadly expressed by developing neurons, and is required for normal cell body
death and axonal pruning both in vivo and after trophic-factor deprivation in vitro. Unlike …
Abstract
Naturally occurring axonal pruning and neuronal cell death help to sculpt neuronal connections during development, but their mechanistic basis remains poorly understood. Here we report that β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and death receptor 6 (DR6, also known as TNFRSF21) activate a widespread caspase-dependent self-destruction program. DR6 is broadly expressed by developing neurons, and is required for normal cell body death and axonal pruning both in vivo and after trophic-factor deprivation in vitro. Unlike neuronal cell body apoptosis, which requires caspase 3, we show that axonal degeneration requires caspase 6, which is activated in a punctate pattern that parallels the pattern of axonal fragmentation. DR6 is activated locally by an inactive surface ligand(s) that is released in an active form after trophic-factor deprivation, and we identify APP as a DR6 ligand. Trophic-factor deprivation triggers the shedding of surface APP in a β-secretase (BACE)-dependent manner. Loss- and gain-of-function studies support a model in which a cleaved amino-terminal fragment of APP (N-APP) binds DR6 and triggers degeneration. Genetic support is provided by a common neuromuscular junction phenotype in mutant mice. Our results indicate that APP and DR6 are components of a neuronal self-destruction pathway, and suggest that an extracellular fragment of APP, acting via DR6 and caspase 6, contributes to Alzheimer’s disease.
nature.com