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The myelin protein MAL affects peripheral nerve myelination: a new player influencing p75 neurotrophin receptor expression
Author(s) -
Buser A. M.,
Schmid D.,
Kern F.,
Erne B.,
Lazzati T.,
SchaerenWiemers N.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06785.x
Subject(s) - myelin , biology , axon , schwann cell , peripheral nervous system , neurotrophin , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , myelin basic protein , low affinity nerve growth factor receptor , receptor , central nervous system , biochemistry
The myelin and lymphocyte protein (MAL) is a raft‐associated membrane protein predominantly expressed by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. Here we show that MAL regulates myelination in the peripheral nervous system. In mice overexpressing MAL, myelination was retarded and fibers were hypomyelinated, whereas myelination in MAL knockout mice was accelerated. This was not due to impaired Schwann cell proliferation, differentiation or axonal sorting. We found that the expression level of p75 neurotrophin receptor mRNA and protein was strongly reduced in developing sciatic nerves in MAL‐overexpressing mice. This reduction is well correlated with the observed alterations in myelination initiation, speed of myelination and alterations in Remak bundle development. Our results suggest a functional role for MAL in peripheral myelination by influencing the expression of membrane components that mediate axon‐glia interaction during ensheathment and myelin wrapping.