title: ProBDNF inhibits collective migration and chemotaxis of rat Schwann cells.
abstract: Schwann cell migration, including collective migration and chemotaxis, is essential for the formation of coordinate interactions between Schwann cells and axons during peripheral nerve development and regeneration. Moreover, limited migration of Schwann cells imposed a serious obstacle on Schwann cell-astrocytes intermingling and spinal cord repair after Schwann cell transplantation into injured spinal cords. Recent studies have shown that mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a member of the neurotrophin family, inhibits Schwann cell migration. The precursor form of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, proBDNF, was expressed in the developing or degenerating peripheral nerves and the injured spinal cords. Since "the yin and yang of neurotrophin action" has been established as a common sense, proBDNF would be expected to promote Schwann cell migration. However, we found, in the present study, that exogenous proBDNF also inhibited in vitro collective migration and chemotaxis of RSC 96 cells, a spontaneously immortalized rat Schwann cell line. Moreover, proBDNF suppressed adhesion and spreading of those cells. At molecular level, proBDNF inhibits F-actin polymerization and focal adhesion dynamics in cultured RSC 96 cells. Therefore, our results suggested a special case against the classical opinion of "the yin and yang of neurotrophin action" and implied that proBDNF might modulate peripheral nerve development or regeneration and spinal cord repair through perturbing native or transplanted Schwann cell migration.
authors: Department of Histology, Embryology and Neurobiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors: You-Quan
authors: YQ
authors: Ding
authors: Department of Histology, Embryology and Neurobiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors: Xuan-Yang
authors: XY
authors: Li
authors: Department of Histology, Embryology and Neurobiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors: Guan-Nan
authors: GN
authors: Xia
authors: Department of Histology, Embryology and Neurobiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors: Hong-Yi
authors: HY
authors: Ren
authors: Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, City East Campus, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors: Xin-Fu
authors: XF
authors: Zhou
authors: Sichuan Province Development and Regeneration Key Laboratory, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China.
authors: Bing-Yin
authors: BY
authors: Su
authors: Department of Histology, Embryology and Neurobiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. Electronic address: jgqi@scu.edu.cn.
authors: Jian-Guo
authors: JG
authors: Qi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000235:genetics*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
keywords: Chemotaxis; Collective cell migration; Nerve development; Nerve regeneration; Neurotrophin; Schwann cell