Cellular Signal-Regulated Schwann Cell Myelination and Remyelination

Research progress on the reduced neural repair ability of aging Schwann cells

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is associated with delayed repair of the injured nerves in elderly patients, resulting in loss of nerve function, chronic pain, muscle atrophy, and permanent disability. Therefore, the mechanism underlying the delayed repair of peripheral nerves in aging patients should be investigated. Schwann cells (SCs) play a crucial role in repairing PNI and regulating various nerve-repair genes after injury. SCs also promote peripheral nerve repair through various modalities, including mediating nerve demyelination, secreting neurotrophic factors, establishing Büngner bands, clearing axon and myelin debris, and promoting axon remyelination. However, aged SCs undergo structural and functional changes, leading to demyelination and dedifferentiation disorders, decreased secretion of neurotrophic factors, impaired clearance of axonal and myelin debris, and reduced capacity for axon remyelination. As a result, aged SCs may result in delayed repair of nerves after injury. This review article aimed to examine the mechanism underlying the diminished neural repair ability of aging SCs.

The transcription factor Stat-1 is essential for Schwann cell differentiation, myelination and myelin sheath regeneration

BACKGROUND

Myelin sheath is a crucial accessory to the functional nerve-fiber unit, its disruption or loss can lead to axonal degeneration and subsequent neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Notwithstanding of substantial progress in possible molecular mechanisms underlying myelination, there is no therapeutics that prevent demyelination in NDs. Therefore, it is crucial to seek for potential intervention targets. Here, we focused on the transcriptional factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1), to explore its effects on myelination and its potential as a drug target.

METHODS

By analyzing the transcriptome data obtained from Schwann cells (SCs) at different stages of myelination, it was found that Stat1 might be involved in myelination. To test this, we used the following experiments: (1) In vivo, the effect of Stat1 on remyelination was observed in an in vivo myelination mode with Stat1 knockdown in sciatic nerves or specific knockdown in SCs. (2) In vitro, the RNA interference combined with cell proliferation assay, scratch assay, SC aggregate sphere migration assay, and a SC differentiation model, were used to assess the effects of Stat1 on SC proliferation, migration and differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq), RNA-Seq, ChIP-qPCR and luciferase activity reporter assay were performed to investigate the possible mechanisms of Stat1 regulating myelination.

RESULTS

Stat1 is important for myelination. Stat1 knockdown in nerve or in SCs reduces the axonal remyelination in the injured sciatic nerve of rats. Deletion of Stat1 in SCs blocks SC differentiation thereby inhibiting the myelination program. Stat1 interacts with the promoter of Rab11-family interacting protein 1 (Rab11fip1) to initiate SC differentiation.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that Stat1 regulates SC differentiation to control myelinogenic programs and repair, uncover a novel function of Stat1, providing a candidate molecule for clinical intervention in demyelinating diseases.

Artesunate Alleviates Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathic Pain in Mice by Decreasing Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Activity and Neuroinflammation in Primary Sensory Neurons

Experimental studies on the pathogenetic process of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain (PINP) have been initially carried out, but PINP still has no effective therapy. Recently reported studies have highlighted the involvement of glutamate receptors and neuroinflammation in peripheral and central nociceptive transmission in PINP. Artesunate is a first-line antimalarial drug with established efficacy in alleviating pain in a variety of pathologies. The current work assessed whether artesunate inhibits PINP by modulating metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and neuroinflammation in mice. The anti-hyperalgesic effect of artesunate was verified by assessing mechanical frequency and thermal latency in the paw withdrawal test as well as spontaneous pain. The expression levels of mGluR5, pain-related receptors and neuroinflammatory markers in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were examined. In addition, treatment with CHPG and 2-methyl-6-(phenyl ethynyl) pyridine (MPEP) (mGluR5 agonist and antagonist, respectively) was performed to determine mGluR5’s role in the anti-hyperalgesic properties of artesunate. We demonstrated artesunate prevented PINP in a dose-dependent manner, while exerting a clear anti-hyperalgesic effect on already existing PINP. Artesunate normalized paclitaxel-related expression changes in DRG mGluR5, NR1, and GluA2, as well as six paclitaxel related neuroinflammation markers. Intrathecal application of MPEP treated PINP by reversing NR1 and GluA2 expression changes but had no effects on chemokines and inflammatory factors. Furthermore, artesunate treatment reversed acute pain following CHPG application. In conclusion, this study revealed that artesunate alleviates paclitaxel-induced hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain by decreasing DRG mGluR5 expression and neuroinflammation in the mouse model of PINP.

The adaptor SH2B1 and the phosphatase PTP4A1 regulate the phosphorylation of cytohesin-2 in myelinating Schwann cells in mice

Mature myelin sheaths insulate axons to increase nerve conduction velocity and protect nerve fibers from stress and physical injury. In the peripheral nervous system, the myelin sheath is produced by Schwann cells. The guanine-nucleotide exchange factor cytohesin-2 activates the protein Arf6 to promote Schwann cell myelination. Here, we investigated the regulation of cytohesin-2 and found that the phosphorylation status of Tyr³⁸¹ in cytohesin-2 is central to Schwann cell myelination. Knockin mice with a nonphosphorylatable Y381F mutation in cytohesin-2 exhibited reduced myelin thickness and decreased Arf6 activity in sciatic nerve tissue. In HEK293T cells, cytohesin-2 was dephosphorylated at Tyr³⁸¹ by the protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP4A1, whereas phosphorylation at this site was maintained by interaction with the adaptor protein SH2B1. Schwann cell-specific knockdown of PTP4A1 in mice increased cytohesin-2 phosphorylation and myelin thickness. Conversely, Schwann cell-specific loss of SH2B1 resulted in reduced myelin thickness and decreased cytohesin-2 phosphorylation. Thus, a signaling unit centered on cytohesin-2-with SH2B1 as a positive regulator and PTP4A1 as a negative regulator-controls Schwann cell myelination in the peripheral nervous system.

Anti-MAG neuropathy: From biology to clinical management

The acquired chronic demyelinating neuropathies include a growing number of disease entities that have characteristic, often overlapping, clinical presentations, mediated by distinct immune mechanisms, and responding to different therapies. After the discovery in the early 1980s, that the myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a target antigen in an autoimmune demyelinating neuropathy, assays to measure the presence of anti-MAG antibodies were used as the basis to diagnose the anti-MAG neuropathy. The route was open for describing the clinical characteristics of this new entity as a chronic distal large fiber sensorimotor neuropathy, for studying its pathogenesis and devising specific treatment strategies. The initial use of chemotherapeutic agents was replaced by the introduction in the late 1990s of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20⁺ B-cells. Since then, other anti-B cells agents have been introduced. Recently a novel antigen-specific immunotherapy neutralizing the anti-MAG antibodies with a carbohydrate-based ligand mimicking the natural HNK-1 glycoepitope has been described.

Primary Cilia in Glial Cells: An Oasis in the Journey to Overcoming Neurodegenerative Diseases

Many neurodegenerative diseases have been associated with defects in primary cilia, which are cellular organelles involved in diverse cellular processes and homeostasis. Several types of glial cells in both the central and peripheral nervous systems not only support the development and function of neurons but also play significant roles in the mechanisms of neurological disease. Nevertheless, most studies have focused on investigating the role of primary cilia in neurons. Accordingly, the interest of recent studies has expanded to elucidate the role of primary cilia in glial cells. Correspondingly, several reports have added to the growing evidence that most glial cells have primary cilia and that impairment of cilia leads to neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we aimed to understand the regulatory mechanisms of cilia formation and the disease-related functions of cilia, which are common or specific to each glial cell. Moreover, we have paid close attention to the signal transduction and pathological mechanisms mediated by glia cilia in representative neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we expect that this field of research will clarify the mechanisms involved in the formation and function of glial cilia to provide novel insights and ideas for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Production of chitosan scaffolds by lyophilization or electrospinning: which is better for peripheral nerve regeneration?

Both lyophilization and electrospinning are commonly used to make chitosan scaffolds. However, it remains unknown which method is better for cell growth. In this study, we established the following groups: (1) lyophilization group-chitosan scaffolds were prepared by lyophilization method and seeded with Schwann cells from Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3-5 days; (2) electrospinning group-chitosan scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning method and seeded with Schwann cells; (3) control group-Schwann cells were cultured on culture dishes. The growth of Schwann cells was evaluated by immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. Western blot assay was performed to explore the mechanism of Schwann cell growth. Both materials were non-toxic and suitable for the growth of Schwann cells. The pores produced by electrospinning were much smaller than those produced by lyophilization. The proliferation rate and adhesion rate of Schwann cells in the electrospinning group were higher than those in the lyophilization group. Schwann cells cultured on electrospinning scaffolds formed a Bungner band-like structure, and a much greater amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor was secreted, which can promote the growth of neurons. Our findings show that the chitosan scaffold prepared by the electrospinning method has a nanofiber structure that provides an extracellular matrix that is more favorable for cell-cell interactions. The electrospinning method is more suitable for nerve regeneration than the lyophilization method. This research was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of Dalian Medical University (approval No. AEE1-2016-045) on March 3, 2016.

Expression of kinase-deficient MEK2 ameliorates Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease phenotypes in mice

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is characterized as a congenital hypomyelinating disorder in oligodendrocytes, myelin-forming glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The responsible gene of PMD is plp1, whose multiplication, deletion, or mutation is associated with PMD. We previously reported that primary oligodendrocytes overexpressing proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) do not have the ability to differentiate morphologically, whereas inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) by its cognate siRNA or chemical inhibitor reverses their undifferentiated phenotypes. Here, we show that oligodendrocyte-specific expression of kinase-deficient dominant-inhibitory mutant (MEK2K101A) of MAPK/ERK kinase 2 (MEK2), as the direct upstream molecule of MAPK/ERK in PMD model mice, promotes myelination in CNS tissues. Expression of MEK2K101A in PMD model mice also improves Rotor-rod test performance, which is often used to assess motor coordination in a rodent model with neuropathy. These results suggest that in PMD model mice, MEK2K101A can ameliorate impairments of myelination and motor function and that the signaling through MAPK/ERK may involve potential therapeutic target molecules of PMD in vivo.

Enhancing membrane repair increases regeneration in a sciatic injury model

Various injuries to the neural tissues can cause irreversible damage to multiple functions of the nervous system ranging from motor control to cognitive function. The limited treatment options available for patients have led to extensive interest in studying the mechanisms of neuronal regeneration and recovery from injury. Since many neurons are terminally differentiated, by increasing cell survival following injury it may be possible to minimize the impact of these injuries and provide translational potential for treatment of neuronal diseases. While several cell types are known to survive injury through plasma membrane repair mechanisms, there has been little investigation of membrane repair in neurons and even fewer efforts to target membrane repair as a therapy in neurons. Studies from our laboratory group and others demonstrated that mitsugumin 53 (MG53), a muscle-enriched tripartite motif (TRIM) family protein also known as TRIM72, is an essential component of the cell membrane repair machinery in skeletal muscle. Interestingly, recombinant human MG53 (rhMG53) can be applied exogenously to increase membrane repair capacity both in vitro and in vivo. Increasing the membrane repair capacity of neurons could potentially minimize the death of these cells and affect the progression of various neuronal diseases. In this study we assess the therapeutic potential of rhMG53 to increase membrane repair in cultured neurons and in an in vivo mouse model of neurotrauma. We found that a robust repair response exists in various neuronal cells and that rhMG53 can increase neuronal membrane repair both in vitro and in vivo. These findings provide direct evidence of conserved membrane repair responses in neurons and that these repair mechanisms can be targeted as a potential therapeutic approach for neuronal injury.