Multivesicular bodies mediate long-range retrograde NGF-TrkA signaling

The development of neurons in the peripheral nervous system is dependent on target-derived, long-range retrograde neurotrophic factor signals. The prevailing view is that target-derived nerve growth factor (NGF), the prototypical neurotrophin, and its receptor TrkA are carried retrogradely by early endosomes, which serve as TrkA signaling platforms in cell bodies. Here, we report that the majority of retrograde TrkA signaling endosomes in mouse sympathetic neurons are ultrastructurally and molecularly defined multivesicular bodies (MVBs). In contrast to MVBs that carry non-TrkA cargoes from distal axons to cell bodies, retrogradely transported TrkA(+) MVBs that arrive in cell bodies evade lysosomal fusion and instead evolve into TrkA(+) single-membrane vesicles that are signaling competent. Moreover, TrkA kinase activity associated with retrogradely transported TrkA(+) MVBs determines TrkA(+) endosome evolution and fate. Thus, MVBs deliver long-range retrograde NGF signals and serve as signaling and sorting platforms in the cell soma, and MVB cargoes dictate their vesicular fate.