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Endopeptidase‐24.11, a Cell‐Surface Peptidace of Central Nervous System Neurons, Is Expressed by Schwann Cells in the Pig Peripheral Nervous System
Author(s) -
Kioussi Chrissa,
Matsas Rebecca
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1991.tb03770.x
Subject(s) - peripheral nervous system , central nervous system , neuroscience , peripheral , schwann cell , nervous system , biology , neuroregeneration , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine
Endopeptidase‐24.11 is a 90‐kDa surface glycoprotein with the ability to hydrolyze a variety of biologically active peptides. Interest in this enzyme is based on the consensus that it may play a role in the termination of peptide signals in the central nervous system. In the present study, we have investigated the distribution of endopeptidase‐24.11 in two nerves of the peripheral nervous system of newborn pigs: the sciatic, composed of a mixture of myelinated and nonmyelinated axons, and the cervical sympathetic trunk in which >99% of the axons are nonmyelinated. The endopeptidase was monitored enzymatically, as well as by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry using mono‐ and polyclonal anti‐endopeptidase antibodies. Endopeptidase‐24.11 was detected in both the sciatic nerve and the cervical sympathetic trunk. Membrane preparations from sciatic nerve hydrolyzed I25 I‐insulin B‐chain, and more than 50% of the activity was inhibited by phosphoramidon with an IC 50 concentration of 3.2 nM Moreover, a 90‐kDa polypeptide was detected by immunoblotting of sciatic nerve membranes. The type of cells expressing the endopeptidase was determined by immunohistochemistry. In teased nerve preparations, these cells were identified morphologically as myelinand non‐myelin‐forming Schwann cells. Endopeptidase‐24. 11 was also expressed by cultured Schwann cells from sciatic nerve and cervical sympathetic trunk maintained for 3 h in vitro. The presence of endopeptidase‐24.11 on the Schwann cell surface raises the possibility of a potential role for the enzyme in nerve development and/or regeneration.