Ganglioside GT1b prevents selective spinal synapse removal following peripheral nerve injury

Peripheral nerve injury triggers synaptic remodeling but the mechanism is not clearly understood. 

The authors show that peripheral nerve injury selectively induces glial phagocytosis of spinal excitatory pre-synapses.

They also demonstrate that ganglioside GT1b accumulates at synaptic terminals preventing their removal by glial cells following nerve injury.

Inhibition of GT1b-synthesis increases glial phagocytosis of excitatory pre-synapses and reduces excitatory synapses post-injury..

GT1b functions as a novel synaptic “don’t eat me” signal, suppressing glial phagocytosis through SYK dephosphorylation.

https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44319-025-00452-2

https://sciencemission.com/GT1b-prevents-spinal-synapse-removal-following-peripheral-nerve-injury