title: Schwann cell-autonomous role of neuropilin-2.
abstract: Neuropilins and group A plexins are components of receptor complexes for class 3 semaphorins, gradients of which help to guide migration of neural progenitor cells and axonal growth cones during development. We demonstrated previously that neuropilins and class 3 semaphorins are induced in sciatic nerve by crush or transection. We now report that in cultured rat Schwann cells, expression of mRNA encoding neuropilin-2 (NRP2) and plexin-A3 (PlexA3), proteins involved in semaphorin-3F (Sema3F) signal transduction, is diminished markedly by forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator that, like axonal contact, induces Schwann cell synthesis of myelin lipids and proteins. Interestingly, Schwann cell expression of mRNA encoding NRP1, which participates in Sema3A signaling, is not downregulated by forskolin. Antibodies that recognize ectodomains of NRP2 but not control antibodies prevented cultured Schwann cells from aligning in parallel and forming columns. These results are consistent with the view that in nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration, Schwann cell NRP2 facilitates assembly of Schwann cells into the tubular aggregates (bands of Büngner) that guide regenerating axons.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Research, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ara
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bannerman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pleasure
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039943:Neuropilin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D039943:Neuropilin-2; C492111:Plxna3 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; C488218:Sema3a protein, rat; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D039942:Neuropilin-1; D005576:Colforsin