Vimentin as a potential target for diverse nervous system diseases

作者：Tao Wang, Xianxiu Qiu, Hongfu Wu, Kangzhen Chen, Shuxian Liu, Yanwei Li, Tao He, Jie Zhao · 发表于：Neural Regeneration Research · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.4103/1673-5374.355744 · 被引用次数：88 · 研究领域：RNA regulation and disease、Skin and Cellular Biology Research、Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities

Vimentin is a major type III intermediate filament protein that plays important roles in several basic cellular functions including cell migration, proliferation, and division. Although vimentin is a cytoplasmic protein, it also exists in the extracellular matrix and at the cell surface. Previous studies have shown that vimentin may exert multiple physiological effects in different nervous system injuries and diseases. For example, the studies of vimentin in spinal cord injury and stroke mainly focus on the formation of reactive astrocytes. Reduced glial scar, increased axonal regeneration, and improved motor function have been noted after spinal cord injury in vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein knockout (GFAP–/–VIM–/–) mice. However, attenuated glial scar formation in post-stroke in GFAP–/– VIM–/– mice resulted in abnormal neuronal network restoration and worse neurological recovery. These opposite results have been attributed to the multiple roles of glial scar in different temporal and spatial conditions. In addition, extracellular vimentin may be a neurotrophic factor that promotes axonal extension by interaction with the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor. In the pathogenesis of bacterial meningitis, cell surface vimentin is a meningitis facilitator, acting as a receptor of multiple pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli K1, Listeria monocytogenes, and group B streptococcus. Compared with wild type mice, VIM–/– mice are less susceptible to bacterial infectio...