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Schwann cell caveolin‐1 expression increases during myelination and decreases after axotomy
Author(s) -
Mikol Daniel D.,
Scherer Steven S.,
Duckett Sara J.,
Hong Hoylond L.,
Feldman Eva L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.10063
Subject(s) - axotomy , schwann cell , biology , caveolae , microbiology and biotechnology , myelin , caveolin , cell type , caveolin 1 , neuroglia , cell , neuroscience , signal transduction , central nervous system , regeneration (biology) , genetics
The caveolins are a family of related proteins that form the structural framework of caveolae. They have been implicated in the regulation of signal transduction, cell cycle control, and cellular transport processes, particularly cholesterol trafficking. Caveolin‐1 is expressed by a variety of cell types, including Schwann cells, although its expression is greatest in differentiated cell types, such as endothelial cells and adipocytes. In the present work, we characterize caveolin‐1 expression both during rat sciatic nerve development and after axotomy. Schwann cells express little caveolin‐1 on postnatal days 1 and 6. By P30, myelinating Schwann cells express caveolin‐1, which is localized in the outer/abaxonal myelin membranes as well as intracellularly. After axotomy, Schwann cell caveolin‐1 expression in the distal nerve stump decreases as Schwann cells revert to a premyelinating (p75‐positive) phenotype; residual caveolin‐1 within the nerve largely localizes to myelin debris and infiltrating macrophages. We speculate that caveolin‐1 plays a role in the biology of myelinating Schwann cells. GLIA 38:191–199, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.