Schwann cells: Origins and role in axonal maintenance and regeneration

[Guest guest]

Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2006 May 27

Schwann cells: Origins and role in axonal maintenance and

regeneration.

Bhatheja K, Field J.

Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of

Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19041, USA.

The Schwann cell plays a vital role in maintaining the peripheral

nervous system (PNS). Schwann cells are derived from neural crest

cells, and come in two types either myelinating or non-myelinating

Schwann cells. Both play a pivotal role in the maintenance and

regeneration of axons of the neurons in the PNS.

The regulation of Schwann cells is mediated a number of different

neurotrophic factors which signal to transcription factors such as

Krox-20, Oct-6 and Sox-10. Schwann cells are affected in a number of

demyelinating disorders, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and

Guillain-Barre Syndrome, infected by Mycobacterium leprae to cause

leprosy and are responsible for the tumors seen in patients with

neurofibromatosis type 1 and neurofibromatosis type 2.

The Schwann cell is under investigation as a therapeutic agent for

demyelinating diseases and spinal cord injuries. Further research on

Schwann cells will help understand these diseases and perhaps lead to

new treatments.