| First Author | Fledrich R | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Nat Commun | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 1467 |
| PubMed ID | 30931926 | Mgi Jnum | J:273263 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6286774 | Doi | 10.1038/s41467-019-09385-6 |
| Citation | Fledrich R, et al. (2019) NRG1 type I dependent autoparacrine stimulation of Schwann cells in onion bulbs of peripheral neuropathies. Nat Commun 10(1):1467 |
| abstractText | In contrast to acute peripheral nerve injury, the molecular response of Schwann cells in chronic neuropathies remains poorly understood. Onion bulb structures are a pathological hallmark of demyelinating neuropathies, but the nature of these formations is unknown. Here, we show that Schwann cells induce the expression of Neuregulin-1 type I (NRG1-I), a paracrine growth factor, in various chronic demyelinating diseases. Genetic disruption of Schwann cell-derived NRG1 signalling in a mouse model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease 1A (CMT1A), suppresses hypermyelination and the formation of onion bulbs. Transgenic overexpression of NRG1-I in Schwann cells on a wildtype background is sufficient to mediate an interaction between Schwann cells via an ErbB2 receptor-MEK/ERK signaling axis, which causes onion bulb formations and results in a peripheral neuropathy reminiscent of CMT1A. We suggest that diseased Schwann cells mount a regeneration program that is beneficial in acute nerve injury, but that overstimulation of Schwann cells in chronic neuropathies is detrimental. |
