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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Cell Biol. 2014 Apr 27;24(9):515–523. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2014.04.003

Figure 3. NGF-deprived local axon degeneration.

Figure 3

(a) Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) withdrawal induces local degeneration of axons. Axon degeneration can be monitored in vitro upon local NGF withdrawal in neurons of the PNS using Campenot chambers [29], or in neurons of the CNS using microfluidic chambers [30]. (b) Molecular pathways mediating local axonal degeneration. Trophic factor deprivation leads to the activation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family members such as death receptor 6 (DR6) or p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR, also known as NGFR). They trigger the activation of specific members of the apoptotic signaling cascade, which results in pruning of axons. Receptor signaling leads to the upregulation and release of pro-apoptotic Bax from mitochondria, which triggers the activation of initiator caspase 9 and effector caspases 3 and 6. Bclw prevents pruning by inhibiting Bax. The role of Cytochrome c release from mitochondria in local axon degeneration remains unclear.