Figure 7.

Model for the role of NFIL3 in regulating regeneration-associated gene expression. Our data indicate that CREB and NFIL3 form a type 1 incoherent transcriptional feedforward loop. Elevation of cAMP levels triggered by peripheral neuronal injury activates PKA and CREB. CREB then activates regeneration-associated genes (RAGs) containing CRE/EBPRE sites, including Nfil3. NFIL3 acts as a negative regulator on CRE/EBPRE-mediated transcription. At this moment we cannot exclude the possibility that NFIL3 in parallel regulates the expression of other regeneration-associated genes, independent of CREB.