Willin, an upstream component of the Hippo signaling pathway, orchestrates mammalian peripheral nerve fibroblasts

Susan Moleirinho, Calum Patrick, Andrew Martin Tilston-Lunel, JR Higginson, Liselotte Angus, Maciej Antkowiak, Susan Barnett, Michael Prystowsky, Paul Andrew Reynolds, Frank J Gunn-Moore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Willin/FRMD6 was first identified in the rat sciatic nerve, which is composed of neurons, Schwann cells, and fibroblasts. Willin is an upstream component of the Hippo signaling pathway, which results in the inactivation of the transcriptional coactivator YAP through Ser127 phosphorylation. This in turn suppresses the expression of genes involved in cell growth, proliferation and cancer development ensuring the control of organ size, cell contact inhibition and apoptosis. Here we show that in the mammalian sciatic nerve, Willin is predominantly expressed in fibroblasts and that Willin expression activates the Hippo signaling cascade and induces YAP translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In addition within these cells, although it inhibits cellular proliferation, Willin expression induces a quicker directional migration towards
scratch closure and an increased expression of factors linked to nerve regeneration. These results show that Willin modulates sciatic nerve fibroblast activity indicating that Willin may have a potential role in the regeneration of the
peripheral nervous system.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere60028
Number of pages15
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Apr 2013

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