title: Conditional deletion of the Itgb4 integrin gene in Schwann cells leads to delayed peripheral nerve regeneration.
abstract: Several different integrins participate in the complex interactions that promote repair of the peripheral nervous system. The role of the integrin alpha6beta4 in peripheral nerve regeneration was investigated in mice by cre-mediated deletion of the Itgb4 (beta4) gene in Schwann cells. After a crush lesion of the sciatic nerve, the recovery of motor, but not that of sensory, nerve function in beta4(-/-) mice was delayed. Immunostaining of neurofilament-200 showed that there also is a significant reduction in the number of newly outgrowing nerve sprouts in beta4(-/-) mice. Morphometric quantitative measurements revealed that fewer axons are myelinated in the nonlesioned beta4(-/-) nerves. After a sciatic nerve crush lesion, beta4(-/-) mice did not only have fewer myelinated axons compared with lesioned wild-type nerve, but their axons also showed a higher g-ratio and a thinner myelin sheath, pointing at reduced myelination. This study revealed that the beta4 protein remains expressed in the early stages of peripheral regeneration, albeit at levels lower than those before the lesion was inflicted, and showed that laminin deposition is not altered in the absence of beta4. These results together demonstrate that integrin alpha6beta4 plays an essential role in axonal regeneration and subsequent myelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands. i.vanderzee@ncmls.ru.nl
authors.forename: Catharina E E M
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Van der Zee
authors.forename: Maaike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreft
authors.forename: Gaby
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.forename: Arnoud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sonnenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D039663:Integrin beta4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C059834:ITGB4 protein, human; D039663:Integrin beta4