| First Author | Castro R | Year | 2020 |
| Journal | Elife | Volume | 9 |
| PubMed ID | 32584256 | Mgi Jnum | J:294787 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6445357 | Doi | 10.7554/eLife.56935 |
| Citation | Castro R, et al. (2020) Specific labeling of synaptic schwann cells reveals unique cellular and molecular features. Elife 9:e56935 |
| abstractText | Perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs) are specialized, non-myelinating, synaptic glia of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), that participate in synapse development, function, maintenance, and repair. The study of PSCs has relied on an anatomy-based approach, as the identities of cell-specific PSC molecular markers have remained elusive. This limited approach has precluded our ability to isolate and genetically manipulate PSCs in a cell specific manner. We have identified neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2) as a unique molecular marker of S100beta+ PSCs in skeletal muscle. NG2 is expressed in Schwann cells already associated with the NMJ, indicating that it is a marker of differentiated PSCs. Using a newly generated transgenic mouse in which PSCs are specifically labeled, we show that PSCs have a unique molecular signature that includes genes known to play critical roles in PSCs and synapses. These findings will serve as a springboard for revealing drivers of PSC differentiation and function. |
