Mouse schwann cells need both NRG1 and cyclic AMP to myelinate

Peter Arthur-Farraj, Katharina Wanek, Janina Hantke, Catherine M. Davis, Anuj Jayakar, David B. Parkinson, Rhona Mirsky, Kristján R. Jessen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

99 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genetically modified mice have been a major source of information about the molecular control of Schwann-cell myelin formation, and the role of β-neuregulin 1 (NRG1) in this process in vivo. In vitro, on the other hand, Schwann cells from rats have been used in most analyses of the signaling pathways involved in myelination. To correlate more effectively in vivo and in vitro data, we used purified cultures of mouse Schwann cells in addition to rat Schwann cells to examine two important myelin-related signals, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and NRG1 and to determine whether they interact to control myelin differentiation. We find that in mouse Schwann cells, neither cAMP nor NRG1, when used separately, induced markers of myelin differentiation. When combined, however, they induced strong protein expression of the myelin markers, Krox-20 and P0. Importantly, the level of cAMP signaling was crucial in switching NRG1 from a proliferative signal to a myelin differentiation signal. Also in cultured rat Schwann cells, NRG1 promoted cAMP-induced Krox-20 and P0 expression. Finally, we found that cAMP/NRG1-induced Schwann-cell differentiation required the activity of the cAMP response element binding family of transcription factors in both mouse and rat cells. These observations reconcile observations in vivo and on neuron-Schwann-cell cultures with studies on purified Schwann cells. They demonstrate unambiguously the promyelin effects of NRG1 in purified cells, and they show that the cAMP pathway determines whether NRG1 drives proliferation or induces myelin differentiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)720-733
Number of pages14
JournalGLIA
Volume59
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

Keywords

  • Adenovirus
  • CREB
  • Krox-20/Egr2
  • Neuregulin
  • Proliferation
  • Protein kinase A

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mouse schwann cells need both NRG1 and cyclic AMP to myelinate'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this