title: TNF-alpha as an autocrine mediator and its role in the activation of Schwann cells.
abstract: In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) derived from activated Schwann cells (SCs) play a critical role as a pleiotropic mediator. In this study, we examined the function of TNF-alpha as an inflammatory mediator in SCs activation. TNF-alpha exhibits its biological effect through two distinct surface receptors, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNFR2. We show here that cultured SCs express both TNFR1 and TNFR2, and that activation of these receptors by TNF-alpha promotes expression of TNF-alpha. Meanwhile, TNF-alpha also increased the production of other inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, TNF-alpha is involved in the induction of apoptosis through binding to TNFR in SCs. The activation of SCs by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is partially mediated by SCs-derived TNF-alpha. These findings suggest the existence of a positive feedback loop in the activation of SC via TNF-alpha. This loop may be involved in the prolonged activation of SCs. Acute or chronic stimulation of TNF-alpha by SC at sites of PNS inflammation may be critical in determining whether TNF-alpha has activational, inflammatory, or cytotoxic effects on these cells.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Neuroregeneration of JiangSu Province, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, PR China.
authors.forename: Yongwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Yongjing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D053148:Caspase 3