title: Up-regulation of P2X7 receptors mediating proliferation of Schwann cells after sciatic nerve injury.
abstract: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a common disease, which results in a partial or total loss of motor, sensory and autonomic functions, leading to a decrease in quality of life. Schwann cells play a vital role in maintaining the peripheral nervous system and in injury and repair. Using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, calcium assay and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) proliferation assay, the present study clearly demonstrated that P2X7 receptors (R) were expressed in myelinating and non-myelinating Schwann cells in longitudinal sections of sciatic nerves. After sciatic nerve injury (SNI), P2X7R expression in Schwann cells of injured sciatic nerves was significantly up-regulated during the early days of SNI. Double immunofluorescence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and P2X7R implied that P2X7R may be involved in proliferation of Schwann cells. Further experiments on primary cultures of Schwann cells showed that P2X7R are functionally expressed in Schwann cells of rat sciatic nerves; ATP via P2X7R can promote Schwann cell proliferation, possibly via the MAPK/ERK intracellular signalling pathway. Other possible roles of P2X7R on Schwann cells are discussed.
authors: Department of Neurobiology, Second Military Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xian-min
authors: XM
authors: Song
authors: Xiao-hui
authors: XH
authors: Xu
authors: Jiao
authors: J
authors: Zhu
authors: Zhili
authors: Z
authors: Guo
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Cheng
authors: C
authors: He
authors: Geoffrey
authors: G
authors: Burnstock
authors: Hongbin
authors: H
authors: Yuan
authors: Zhenghua
authors: Z
authors: Xiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7