Neuregulin is associated with nerve regeneration in axonal neuropathies.
Neuregulins (NRG), the only trophic factors known to support Schwann cell survival, have a potential for use in treatment of patients with chronic neuropathies. Expression of one NRG isoform, NRG-beta1, was increased in axons in the early phase of axonal degeneration in nerve biopsy specimens from patients with neuropathy. Regenerating nerve fibers contained abundant NRG-beta1 in axons, but nerves from patients with chronic axonal neuropathy showed less. NRG-beta1 may act as an axonally derived signal having a trophic effect on denervated Schwann cells, facilitating their supportive role in axonal regeneration.
Oka
N
N
Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Kawasaki
T
T
Matsui
M
M
Tachibana
H
H
Sugita
M
M
Akiguchi
I
I
D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism
D020890:Neuregulin-1; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; C087230:heregulin beta1