The protective role of prosaposin and its receptors in the nervous system

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 1585; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Meyer, Rebecca C, Giddens, Michelle M, Coleman, Brilee M, Hall, Randy A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 17.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - metabolism; Brain Ischemia - metabolism; Dopaminergic Neurons - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GPCR; Humans; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 - metabolism; Lysosome; Lysosomes - metabolism; Myelination; Nerve; Nerve Growth Factors - metabolism; Nerve Regeneration; Nervous System - metabolism; Neuroglia - metabolism; Neurology; Neuroprotection; Neurotrophic; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Saposins - metabolism; Saposins - secretion; Signal Transduction; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Nerve; Neuroprotection; GPCR; Myelination; Neurotrophic; Lysosome; Prevention; Nervous system; Biological receptor
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.08.022

Abstract Prosaposin (also known as SGP-1) is an intriguing multifunctional protein that plays roles both intracellularly, as a regulator of lysosomal enzyme function, and extracellularly, as a secreted factor with neuroprotective and glioprotective effects. Following secretion, prosaposin can undergo endocytosis via an interaction with the low-density lipoprotein-related receptor 1 (LRP1). The ability of secreted prosaposin to promote protective effects in the nervous system is known to involve activation of G proteins, and the orphan G protein-coupled receptors GPR37 and GPR37L1 have recently been shown to mediate signaling induced by both prosaposin and a fragment of prosaposin known as prosaptide. In this review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of prosaposin, its receptors and their importance in the nervous system.