Schwann cells: origins and role in axonal maintenance and regeneration
Autor(es): Bhatheja Kanav,Field Jeffrey
Resumo: The Schwann cell plays a vital role in maintaining the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Schwann cells are derived from neural crest cells, and come in two types either myelinating or non-myelinating Schwann cells. Both play a pivotal role in the maintenance and regeneration of axons of the neurons in the PNS. The regulation of Schwann cells is mediated a number of different neurotrophic factors which signal to transcription factors such as Krox-20, Oct-6 and Sox-10. Schwann cells are affected in a number of demyelinating disorders, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and Guillain-Barré Syndrome, infected by Mycobacterium leprae to cause leprosy and are responsible for the tumors seen in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and neurofibromatosis type 2. The Schwann cell is under investigation as a therapeutic agent for demyelinating diseases and spinal cord injuries. Further research on Schwann cells will help understand these diseases and perhaps lead to new treatments.
Palavras-Chave: Schwann cell; Glial cell; Spinal cord; Myelin; MAPK
Imprenta: The international Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, v. 38, n. 12, p. 1995-1999, 2006
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1016/j.biocel.2006.05.007
Descritores: Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Biosynthesis ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Cell ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Cytopathology
Data de publicação: 2006
