Expression of beta-catenin and integrin-linked kinase in the mouse sciatic nerve.
In the present study, the expressions of beta-catenin and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in the adult mouse peripheral nerve were investigated by means of immunoblotting analyses and electron microscopy using the immunogold pre -embedding method. As a result, beta-catenin and ILK were shown to be expressed both in the axon and the Schwann cell of the myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. By electron microscopy, some molecules of beta-catenin and ILK tended to concentrate under the axolemma in the unmyelinated fibers, while these molecules were distributed in a scattered form throughout the axoplasm in the myelinated fibers. Concerning the cytoplasm of the Schwann cells, the loop region was too slender to detect whether beta-catenin and ILK were associated with the plasmalemma; however, beta-catenin and ILK were distributed diffusely without any relationship in regard to the plasmalemma or the cell organelles around the nucleus region. The density of beta-catenin and ILK around the nucleus region was greater than that within the nucleus region. From these results, some molecules of beta-catenin mediate the axon-Schwann cell adhesion of the unmyelinated fibers, while other molecules are thought to be separated from the cadherin-catenin complex on the plasmalemma. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that the cell-cell adhesion property in the peripheral nerve is not strong but dynamic, and this adhesion is possibly regulated by ILK.
Takeuchi
Junichiro
J
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine. jtakeu@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Shibuya
Yasuyuki
Y
Murata
Maho
M
Komori
Takahide
T
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK
D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051176:beta Catenin; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK