title: Transcriptional regulation induced by cAMP elevation in mouse Schwann cells.
abstract: In peripheral nerves, Schwann cell development is regulated by a variety of signals. Some of the aspects of Schwann cell differentiation can be reproduced in vitro in response to forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator elevating intracellular cAMP levels. Herein, the effect of forskolin treatment was investigated by a comprehensive genome-wide expression study on primary mouse Schwann cell cultures. Additional to myelin-related genes, many so far unconsidered genes were ascertained to be modulated by forskolin. One of the strongest differentially regulated gene transcripts was the transcription factor Olig1 (oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1), whose mRNA expression levels were reduced in treated Schwann cells. Olig1 protein was localized in myelinating and nonmyelinating Schwann cells within the sciatic nerve as well as in primary Schwann cells, proposing it as a novel transcription factor of the Schwann cell lineage. Data analysis further revealed that a number of differentially expressed genes in forskolin-treated Schwann cells were associated with the ECM (extracellular matrix), underlining its importance during Schwann cell differentiation in vitro. Comparison of samples derived from postnatal sciatic nerves and from both treated and untreated Schwann cell cultures showed considerable differences in gene expression between in vivo and in vitro, allowing us to separate Schwann cell autonomous from tissue-related changes. The whole data set of the cell culture microarray study is provided to offer an interactive search tool for genes of interest.
authors.affiliation: *Neurobiology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: *Neurobiology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeis
authors.affiliation: *Neurobiology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schaeren-Wiemers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016678:Genome / Q000187:drug effects; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D005576:Colforsin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C499047:Mbp protein, mouse; C494786:Olig1 protein, mouse; C517634:Ngfr protein, mouse