Laminins in Peripheral Nerve Development and Muscular Dystrophy

Authors: Yu, Wei-Ming¹; Yu, Huaxu¹; Chen, Zu-Lin²

Source: Molecular Neurobiology, Volume 35, Number 3, June 2007 , pp. 288-297(10)

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Abstract:

Laminins are extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that play an important role in cellular function and tissue morphogenesis. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), laminins are expressed in Schwann cells and participate in their development. Mutations in laminin subunits expressed in the PNS and in skeleton muscle may cause peripheral neuropathies and muscular dystrophy in both humans and mice. Recent studies using gene knockout technology, such as cell-type specific gene targeting techniques, revealed that laminins and their receptors mediate Schwann cell and axon interactions. Schwann cells with disrupted laminin expression exhibit impaired proliferation and differentiation and also undergo apoptosis. In this review, we focus on the potential molecular mechanisms by which laminins participate in the development of Schwann cells.

Keywords: Radial sorting; Schwann cells; Proliferation; Apoptosis; Differentiation; Integrin; Myelination

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12035-007-0026-x

Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA, 2: Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA, Email: chenz@rockefeller.edu

Publication date: 2007-06-01