P75 neurotrophin receptor controls subventricular zone neural stem cell migration after stroke

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability. Endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) originating from the subventricular zone (SVZ) contribute to the brain repair process. However, molecular mechanisms underlying CNS disease-induced SVZ NSPC-redirected migration to the lesion area are poorly understood. Here, we show that genetic depletion of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR−/−)) in mice reduced SVZ NSPC migration towards the lesion area after cortical injury and that p75(NTR−/−) NSPCs failed to migrate upon BDNF stimulation in vitro. Cortical injury rapidly increased p75(NTR) abundance in SVZ NSPCs via bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor signaling. SVZ-derived p75(NTR−/−) NSPCs revealed an altered cytoskeletal network- and small GTPase family-related gene and protein expression. In accordance, BMP-treated non-migrating p75(NTR−/−) NSPCs revealed an altered morphology and α-tubulin expression compared to BMP-treated migrating wild-type NSPCs. We propose that BMP-induced p75(NTR) abundance in NSPCs is a regulator of SVZ NSPC migration to the lesion area via regulation of the cytoskeleton following cortical injury. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00441-021-03539-z.