Expression and regulation of FRMD6 in mouse DRG neurons and spinal cord after nerve injury

FRMD6, a member of the group of FERM-domain proteins, is involved both in communication between cells, interactions with extracellular matrix, cellular apoptotic and regenerative mechanisms. FRMD6 was first discovered in the rodent sciatic nerve, and in the present immunohistochemical study we investigated the distribution of FRMD6 in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), sciatic nerve and spinal cord following sciatic nerve injury. FRMD6-immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm, nucleus or both, and in a majority of DRG neurons. FRMD6-immunoreactivity co-existed with several well-known neuronal markers, including calcitonin gene-related peptide, isolectin B4 and neurofilament 200 in mouse DRGs. After peripheral nerve injury, the FRMD6 mRNA levels and the overall percentage of FRMD6-positive neuron profiles (NPs) were decreased in ipsilateral lumbar DRGs, the latter mainly affecting small size neurons with cytoplasmic localization. Conversely, the proportion of NPs with nuclear FRMD6-immunoreactivity was significantly increased. In the sciatic nerve, FRMD6-immunoreactivity was observed in non-neuronal cells and in axons, and accumulated proximally to a ligation of the nerve. In the spinal cord FRMD6-immunoreactivity was detected in neurons in both dorsal and ventral horns, and was upregulated in ipsilateral dorsal horn after peripheral nerve axotomy. Our results demonstrate that FRMD6 is strictly regulated by peripheral nerve injury at the spinal level.