Regulation of neuroregeneration by long noncoding RNAs [ATAC-seq]

In mammals, neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) have regenerative capacity following injury, a capacity which but it is generally absent in the central nervous system (CNS). This difference is attributed, at least in part, to the intrinsic ability of PNS neurons to activate a unique regenerative transcriptional program following injury. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts are typically expressed in a small subset of cell types and may facilitate specificity in regulatory programs. Here we profiled gene expression following sciatic nerve crush in mice, and identified lncRNAs that act in the regenerating neurons, and which are typically not expressed in other contexts. We show that two of these lncRNAs regulate the extent of neuronal outgrowth. We then focus on one of these, Silc1, and show that it regulates neuroregeneration in cultured cells and in vivo, through cis-acting activation of the transcription factor Sox11. ATAC-seq of sham operated or injured, WT of Silc1-/- DRG