title: Carboxymethylated chitosan stimulates proliferation of Schwann cells in vitro via the activation of the ERK and Akt signaling pathways.
abstract: Proliferation of Schwann cell in the injured peripheral nerve supports axonal regeneration and also is critical for the regeneration of injured nerves. In this publication, carboxymethylated chitosan (CMCS) was studied to determine its capacity (i) to induce proliferation and synthesis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and (ii) to activate mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) and phosphatidylinositil-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways in rat Schwann cells. CMCS was found to induce proliferation and PCNA synthesis in Schwann cells in a dose and time dependent manner. CMCS was shown to phosphorylate ERK1/2 and Akt in Schwann cell proliferation. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt in Schwann cells was blocked by the MEK inhibitor PD98059 and the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. In addition, inhibition of the MEK/ERK or the PI3K/Akt signaling pathways significantly decreased the proliferative effects of CMCS in Schwann cells. Overall, the above results indicate that CMCS stimulates proliferation of Schwann cells by activating the intracellular signaling cascades of ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Shi-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hao-Huan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wan-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008745:Methylation; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048271:Chitosan; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases