The intrinsic regrowth ability of injured neurons is essential for axon regeneration and functional recovery. Recently, numerous intrinsic pathways that regulate axon regeneration have been discovered, among which the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway are arguably the best characterized examples. MAPK signaling pathway is involved in multiple processes including sensing injury signals, initiating and promoting axonal regrowth through regulating cytoskeleton dynamics and protein synthesis. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway regulates axon regeneration mainly through gene transcription and translation. Combinatory manipulation of multiple regeneration-promoting signals can further improve the extend of axonal regrowth. This paper summarizes current progresses on axon regeneration studies in various organisms and discuss their potentials in promoting functional recovery in vivo.
神经元内源性再生能力是神经元再生和功能恢复的关键。近年研究发现了多个调控轴突再生的内源性信号通路，其中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）信号通路和磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B（PI3K/Akt）信号通路最具代表性。MAPK信号通路参与轴突损伤的感知、再生的启动和维持等过程，通过调节蛋白合成和细胞骨架来调控轴突再生；PI3K/Akt信号通路则通过调节损伤后神经元内相关基因的转录和翻译调控轴突再生。多种再生促进信号的共同作用能进一步提升轴突再生能力。本文综述了MAPK和PI3K/Akt信号通路在不同模式生物中调控轴突再生的研究进展，并展望了其在促进体内神经功能恢复上的重要作用。