title: Inhibition of N-cadherin and beta-catenin function reduces axon-induced Schwann cell proliferation.
abstract: N-cadherin and beta-catenin are involved in cell adhesion and cell cycle in tumor cells and neural crest. Both are expressed at key stages of Schwann cell (SC) development, but little is known about their function in the SC lineage. We studied the role of these molecules in adult rat derived SC-embryonic dorsal root ganglion cocultures by using low-Ca(2+) conditions and specific blocking antibodies to interfere with N-cadherin function and by using small interfering RNA (siRNA) to decrease beta-catenin expression in both SC-neuron cocultures and adult rat-derived SC monocultures. N-cadherin blocking conditions decreased SC-axon association and reduced axon-induced SC proliferation. In SC monocultures, beta-catenin reduction diminished the proliferative response of SCs to the mitogen beta1-heregulin, and, in SC-DRG cocultures, beta-catenin reduction inhibited axon-contact-dependent SC proliferation. Stimulation of SC cultures with beta1-heregulin increased total beta-catenin protein amount, phosphorylation of GSK-3beta and beta-catenin presence in nuclear extracts. In conclusion, our findings suggest a previously unrecognized contribution of beta-catenin and N-cadherin to axon-induced SC proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gess
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Halfter
authors.forename: Ilka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kleffner
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monje
authors.forename: Gagani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Athauda
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Ina B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Wanner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D020890:Neuregulin-1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051176:beta Catenin; C087230:heregulin beta1