title: Fas ligand acts as a counter-receptor in Schwann cells and induces the secretion of bioactive nerve growth factor.
abstract: Fas ligand (FasL) is best known for its role in apoptosis. Membrane-bound FasL can signal in FasL-bearing cells, a process known as reverse signalling. The biological and functional consequences of FasL reverse signalling in Schwann cells were studied. FasL engagement induced the secretion of soluble mediator(s) that stimulated neurite growth in PC12 cells, NGF secretion, and NGF mRNA levels. ERK1/2 and Src phosphorylation was rapidly increased and inhibition of their activation affected NGF synthesis and release. FasL can therefore act as a signal-transducing molecule in Schwann cells, leading to the secretion of NGF, and may contribute to peripheral nerve regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Manuelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mimouni-Rongy
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desbarats
authors.forename: Guillermina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almazan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor