Research ReportDIgLONs inhibit initiation of neurite outgrowth from forebrain neurons via an IgLON-containing receptor complex

IgLONs are a family of four GPI-anchored cell adhesion molecules that regulate neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis and may act as tumour suppressor genes. IgLONs are thought to function as monomers or homodimers and we have proposed that IgLONs also act as heterodimeric complexes termed Dimeric IgLONs or DIgLONs. Here we show that the initiation of neurite outgrowth is inhibited from a subset of chick embryonic day (E) 7 or 8 forebrain neurons when they are cultured on CHO cell lines expressing DIgLON:CEPU-1-OBCAM and DIgLON:CEPU-1-LAMP but not on CHO cells that express single IgLONs CEPU-1 or OBCAM. Surprisingly at the younger age of E6 forebrain neurons do not respond to DIgLONs. Since there is little difference in expression of IgLONs on the surface of chick forebrain neurons at these two ages we suggest IgLONs alone are not the receptor on the responding forebrain neurons. A DIgLON heterodimeric recombinant protein DIgLON:CEPU-1-OBCAM-Fc also blocked neurite outgrowth from E8 chick forebrain neurons. However, when IgLONs were removed from the surface of these E8 neurons they no longer responded to DIgLON:CEPU-1-OBCAM-Fc substrate, indicating that IgLONs form at least a component of the neuronal cell receptor complex involved in this inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Inhibitors pertussis toxin and Y27632 reversed the inhibition of neurite outgrowth on a DIgLON:CEPU-1-OBCAM and DIgLON:CEPU-1-LAMP substrate. This suggests the involvement of a G-protein coupled receptor and activation of Rho A. In summary we provide evidence that DIgLON:CEPU-1-OBCAM and DIgLON:CEPU-1-LAMP complexes regulate initiation of neurite outgrowth on forebrain neurons via an IgLON-containing receptor complex.

Research Highlights► GPI-anchored glycoproteins form heterodimeric complexes in the plane of the membrane. ► IgLON heterodimers have different activities to homodimers. ► IgLON heterodimers regulate initiation of neurite outgrowth from forebrain neurons. ► IgLONs form part of the receptor complex that binds the IgLON heterodimers. ► IgLON heterodimers initiate signalling cascades that act via Rho A in neurons.