Sox11 Overexpression Restores Embryonic Pro-Growth Transcription in Mature Corticospinal Tract Neurons

Authors

• Eliazbeth Batsel, Marquette University
• Zimei Wang, Marquette University
• Elizabeth Otten, Marquette University
• Syed Roshan, Marquette University
• Rabia Mohammad, Marquette University
• Paula Pascual, Marquette University
• Darby O'Shea, Marquette University
• Jose Rosas, Marquette University
• Pantelis Tsoulfas, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• Murray G. Blackmore, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Publisher

Nature Publishing

Source Publication

Scientific Reports

Source ISSN

2045-2322

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-33479-5

Abstract

Neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) display a high capacity for axon growth during early development but lose this ability at a pivotal differentiation stage marked by synaptic maturation, circuit integration, and a profound shift in gene transcription. Once mature, most CNS neurons fail to reverse this transcriptional switch after axon injury, fundamentally constraining their intrinsic capacity for axon regeneration. Here, we show with single-nucleus RNA sequencing that forced expression of the transcription factor Sox11 in mature corticospinal tract (CST) neurons produces large-scale and stable changes in gene expression that are highly enriched for growth-relevant processes, and which strongly resemble those of pre-synaptic embryonic stages. Moreover, Sox11 is equally effective when delivered to chronically injured CST neurons. These data reveal Sox11’s ability to reverse a critical step of neuronal maturation even in otherwise unperturbed neurons, clarifying the transcriptional underpinnings and highlighting Sox11 as a potent regulator of pro-regenerative gene networks.

Comments

Published version. Scientific Reports, Vol. 16 (2026). DOI. © 2025 The Authors. 

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Batsel, Eliazbeth; Wang, Zimei; Otten, Elizabeth; Roshan, Syed; Mohammad, Rabia; Pascual, Paula; O'Shea, Darby; Rosas, Jose; Tsoulfas, Pantelis; and Blackmore, Murray G., "Sox11 Overexpression Restores Embryonic Pro-Growth Transcription in Mature Corticospinal Tract Neurons" (2026). Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 268.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/biomedsci_fac/268