title: Methylcobalamin promotes the differentiation of Schwann cells and remyelination in lysophosphatidylcholine-induced demyelination of the rat sciatic nerve.
abstract: Schwann cells (SCs) are constituents of the peripheral nervous system. The differentiation of SCs in injured peripheral nerves is critical for regeneration after injury. Methylcobalamin (MeCbl) is a vitamin B12 analog that is necessary for the maintenance of the peripheral nervous system. In this study, we estimated the effect of MeCbl on SCs. We showed that MeCbl downregulated the activity of Erk1/2 and promoted the expression of the myelin basic protein in SCs. In a dorsal root ganglion neuron-SC coculture system, myelination was promoted by MeCbl. In a focal demyelination rat model, MeCbl promoted remyelination and motor and sensory functional regeneration. MeCbl promoted the in vitro differentiation of SCs and in vivo myelination in a rat demyelination model and may be a novel therapy for several types of nervous disorders.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita Japan.
authors: Shunsuke
authors: S
authors: Nishimoto
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Tanaka
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Toyonaka Municipal Hospital, Toyonaka Japan.
authors: Michio
authors: M
authors: Okamoto
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita Japan ; Medical Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Osaka University Hospital, Suita Japan.
authors: Kiyoshi
authors: K
authors: Okada
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita Japan.
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Murase
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita Japan.
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Yoshikawa
keywords: Erk signaling; cAMP; demyelinating disease; methylcobalamin; myelin basic protein; myelination; peripheral nervous system