Molecular Mechanisms of Axon Degeneration
The observation that in most neurodegenerative diseases early and quite striking axonal and synaptic degradation occurs, has led to a dramatic increase in interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying loss of axonal integrity. This meeting was meant to bring together leading researchers who are shaping the burgeoning field of axonal and synaptic auto-destruction. We invited a slate of exceptional researchers to speak on neurite degeneration in a variety of settings (e.g. developmental axon and synapse elimination, neuromuscular junction biology, Wallerian degeneration, peripheral neuropathy, and neurodegenerative disease) and model genetic organisms. Presentations focused on addressing central questions including: (1) What are the intrinsic mechanisms that drive axon auto-destruction after injury or in disease? (2) How do changes in axonal transport or RNA metabolism affect axonal maintenance or degeneration? (3) What extrinsic factors influence axon degeneration (e.g. glial-derived)? (4) How do these pathways modulate functional loss after axon injury or in neurodegenerative disease? Discussion sessions allowed a frank assessment of the status of the field, framing of key future goals, and (we hope) initiation of productive collaborations.
Organizers
Robert Burgess, The Jackson Laboratory
Marc Freeman, HHMI/University of Massachusetts Medical School
Erika Holzbaur, University of Pennsylvania
Invited Participants
Susan Ackerman, HHMI/The Jackson Laboratory
Gary Bassell, Emory University School of Medicine
Christine Beattie, Ohio State University
Frank Bradke, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Valeria Cavalli, Washington University in St. Louis
Michael Coleman, The Babraham Institute
Catherine Collins, University of Michigan
Felipe Court, Catholic University of Chile
Graeme Davis, University of California, San Francisco
Valina Dawson, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Michael Fainzilber, Weizmann Institute of Science
Aaron Gitler, Stanford University
Jonathan Glass, Emory University School of Medicine
Michael Granato, University of Pennsylvania
Christopher Henderson, Columbia University
Simon John, HHMI/The Jackson Laboratory
Martin Kerschensteiner, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Virginia Lee, University of Pennsylvania
Mary Logan, Oregon Health & Science University
Jeffrey Milbrandt, Washington University in St. Louis
Thomas Misgeld, Technical University Munich
Klaus-Armin Nave, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine
Guy Rouleau, University of Montreal
Thomas Schwarz, Harvard Medical School
Charlotte Sumner, Johns Hopkins University
Marc Tessier-Lavigne, The Rockefeller University
