title: Sox2 in the adult rat sensory nervous system.
abstract: Sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box 2 (Sox2) is a member of the Sox family transcription factors. In the central nervous system, Sox2 is expressed in neural stem cells from neurogenic regions, and regulates stem cell proliferation and differentiation. In the peripheral nervous system, Sox2 is found only in the immature and dedifferentiated Schwann cells, and is involved in myelination inhibition or N-cadherin redistribution. In the present immunohistochemical study, we found that Sox2 is also expressed in other cells of the adult rat peripheral nervous system. Nuclear Sox2 was observed in all satellite glial cells, non-myelinating Schwann cells, and the majority of terminal Schwann cells that form lamellar corpuscles and longitudinal lanceolate endings. Sox2 was not found in myelinating Schwann cells and terminal Schwann cells of subepidermal free nerve endings. Satellite glial cells exhibit strong Sox2 immunoreactivity, whereas non-myelinating Schwann cells show weak immunoreactivity. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of Sox2 mRNA, indicating that the cells are likely Sox2 expressors. Our findings suggest that the role of Sox2 in the peripheral nervous system may be cell-type-dependent.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Science, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata-City, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kioke
authors.forename: Taketoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: Yukie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirahara
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527784:Sox2 protein, rat