title: Regulation of peripheral myelination by Src-like kinases.
abstract: Fyn, a nonreceptor Src-like tyrosine kinase (SLK), plays an important role in oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination in the brain. However, its role in myelination of peripheral nerves remains undefined. Here we report that selective inhibitors of SLKs (PP2 and SU6656) caused a dose-dependent decrease in the accumulation of several myelin proteins, including myelin basic protein (MBP), protein zero (P0) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in rat Schwann cell-dorsal root ganglion neuron (SC-DRGN) co-cultures. Interestingly, SLK inhibition was insufficient to completely abrogate myelin synthesis, as removal of PP2 after several days of treatment permitted a partial recovery of myelin proteins expression. Furthermore, fewer and shorter myelinated segments formed in the continuous presence of PP2, although the myelin formed was normally compacted. PP2 also decreased the number of SCs expressing Krox-20, a master-regulatory transcription factor expressed by myelinating SCs, by 50%. These results were corroborated by selective knockdown of Fyn and Lyn kinases using siRNA. Extracellular matrix is important to SC differentiation and peripheral myelination. Using phospho-specific antibodies, we showed that addition of extracellular matrix extracts to SC-DRGN co-cultures resulted in the activation of ERK, Akt and p38 MAPK, three protein kinases involved in SC proliferation, differentiation and peripheral myelination. PP2 blocked the phosphorylation of all three kinases. Our results support a role for SLKs in the initiation of peripheral myelination via the activation of p38, Akt and ERK, which regulate Krox-20 expression and peripheral myelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Shireen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: Walter E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Mushynski
authors.forename: Guillermina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almazan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / Q000096:biosynthesis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; C497328:Egr2 protein, rat; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015222:Sodium Channels; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases