Specific Labeling of Synaptic Schwann Cells Reveals Unique Cellular and Molecular Features

Overview

Journal Elife

Specialty Biology

Date 2020 Jun 26

PMID 32584256

Citations 42

Authors

Ryan Castro

Thomas Taetzsch

Sydney K Vaughan

Kerilyn Godbe

John Chappell

Robert E Settlage

Gregorio Valdez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs) are specialized, non-myelinating, synaptic glia of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), that participate in synapse development, function, maintenance, and repair. The study of PSCs has relied on an anatomy-based approach, as the identities of cell-specific PSC molecular markers have remained elusive. This limited approach has precluded our ability to isolate and genetically manipulate PSCs in a cell specific manner. We have identified neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2) as a unique molecular marker of S100β+ PSCs in skeletal muscle. NG2 is expressed in Schwann cells already associated with the NMJ, indicating that it is a marker of differentiated PSCs. Using a newly generated transgenic mouse in which PSCs are specifically labeled, we show that PSCs have a unique molecular signature that includes genes known to play critical roles in PSCs and synapses. These findings will serve as a springboard for revealing drivers of PSC differentiation and function.

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