Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
J Clin Immunol. 2013 Jan;33 Suppl 1:S18-26. doi: 10.1007/s10875-012-9786-9. Epub 2012 Sep 6.
As myelinating glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells wrap around axons and thereby provide insulation, acceleration of electric signal propagation, and axonal protection and maintenance. Schwann cells are main effectors for regeneration in a variety of peripheral neuropathic conditions, including inherited, inflammatory, toxic, and diabetic neuropathies, as well as traumatic injuries to peripheral nerve fibers. Due to their high differentiation plasticity, these cells can respond to injury and disease by myelin sheath degradation, dedifferentiation into an immature Schwann cell-like phenotype, proliferation, and remyelination of sprouting axons. In doing so, they can support and promote axonal regrowth and target tissue innervation. Developmental differentiation as well as regenerative de- and redifferentiation are tightly controlled by a balance of positive and negative regulators of Schwann cell maturation. Since misregulated expression of such negative regulators is potentially involved in inefficient or failed regeneration, we will provide an overview about recent work revealing the complex interactions between extrinsic and intrinsic signals in the inhibition of Schwann cell differentiation.
作为周围神经系统的髓鞘形成胶质细胞，施万细胞包裹在轴突周围，从而提供绝缘、加速电信号的传播，并保护和维持轴突。施万细胞是多种周围神经病变情况下再生的主要效应物，包括遗传性、炎症性、毒性和糖尿病性神经病，以及周围神经纤维的创伤性损伤。由于其高度分化的可塑性，这些细胞可以通过髓鞘降解、去分化为未成熟的施万细胞样表型、增殖和发芽轴突的再髓鞘化来响应损伤和疾病。这样，它们可以支持和促进轴突的再生和靶组织的神经支配。发育分化以及再生的去分化和再分化受到施万细胞成熟的正、负调节因子平衡的严格控制。由于这些负调节因子的表达失调可能与再生效率低下或失败有关，因此我们将概述最近的工作，揭示外在和内在信号在抑制施万细胞分化中的复杂相互作用。
