Rescue of dorsal root sensory neurons by nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3, but not brain-derived neurotrophic factor or neurotrophin-4, is dependent on the level of the p75 neurotrophin receptor.

Sensory neurons isolated from dorsal root ganglia of postnatal mice were analysed for cell surface p75, using fluorescent antibody staining with flow cytometry. They were found to follow a single bell-shaped distribution of p75 level, with no discrete group of p75-negative neurons. Sensory neurons were then separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting into high- and low-p75 populations, consisting of cells within the highest and lowest 15th percentiles, respectively, of p75 expression levels. The sorted neurons were tested for trkA staining. All high-p75 neurons were positive for trkA, while many low-p75 cells were negative for trkA. The sorted neurons were placed in culture, and their survival in the absence and presence of various neurotrophins was measured. Low-p75 cells were found to have enhanced survival in the absence of neurotrophins, while cells with high p75 levels had reduced survival, compared to the overall population. Almost all high-p75 neurons were rescued with nerve growth factor, whereas less than half of the low-p75 cells were rescued. The slope of the dose response to nerve growth factor did not differ markedly between high- and low-p75 cells. High-p75, but not low-p75, neurons were responsive to neurotrophin-3. There was only a small response to either brain-derived neurotrophic factor or neurotrophin-4 in both high- and low-p75 neurons. All low-p75 neurons, and 68% of high-p75 neurons, survived in the presence of ciliary neurotrophic factor. These results, while consistent with our hypothesis that p75 may act as a death factor in postnatal sensory neurons, also imply a role for p75 in the modulation of trk responsiveness to neurotrophins. They also indicate overlapping neurotrophin responses in sensory neurons, especially in those with high p75 levels. A large proportion of low-p75 cells were not responsive to any of the nerve growth factor-related neurotrophins, suggesting an important role for cytokines such as ciliary neurotrophic factor and leukaemia inhibitor factor in the survival of sensory neurons.