title: Macrophage polarization in nerve injury: do Schwann cells play a role?
abstract: In response to peripheral nerve injury, the inflammatory response is almost entirely comprised of infiltrating macrophages. Macrophages are a highly plastic, heterogenic immune cell, playing an indispensable role in peripheral nerve injury, clearing debris and regulating the microenvironment to allow for efficient regeneration. There are several cells within the microenvironment that likely interact with macrophages to support their function - most notably the Schwann cell, the glial cell of the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cells express several ligands that are known to interact with receptors expressed by macrophages, yet the effects of Schwann cells in regulating macrophage phenotype remains largely unexplored. This review discusses macrophages in peripheral nerve injury and how Schwann cells may regulate their behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Jo Anne
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1205-1353
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stratton
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Prajay T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Shah
keywords: Schwann cells; macrophage; nerve; polarization; traumatic injury