title: Mast cells can contribute to axon-glial dissociation and fibrosis in peripheral nerve.
abstract: Expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in murine Schwann cells results in loss of axon-Schwann cell interactions and collagen deposition, modeling peripheral nerve response to injury and tumorigenesis. Mast cells infiltrate nerves in all three situations. We show that mast cells are present in normal mouse peripheral nerve beginning at 4 weeks of age, and that the number of mast-cells in EGFR(+) nerves increases abruptly at 5-6 weeks of age as axons and Schwann cells dissociate. The increase in mast cell number is preceded and accompanied by elevated levels of mRNAs encoding the mast-cell chemoattractants Rantes, SCF and VEGF. Genetic ablation of mast cells and bone marrow reconstitution in W(41) x EGFR(+) mice indicate a role for mast cells in loss of axon-Schwann cell interactions and collagen deposition. Pharmacological stabilization of mast cells by disodium cromoglycate administration to EGFR(+) mice also diminished loss of axon-Schwann cell interaction. Together these three lines of evidence support the hypothesis that mast cells can contribute to alterations in peripheral nerves.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Monk
authors.forename: Jianqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jon P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Brenda A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Finney
authors.forename: Maureen E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Marie-Dominique
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ratner