The Biology of Schwann Cells

Schwann cells are a diverse group of cells formed from neural crest cells. They are essential components of the peripheral nerves of both vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. The diversity of Schwann cell subsets and function is seen in those Schwann cells that form myelin – that uniquely specialised part of the plasma membrane that spirals around axonal lengths to myelinate the peripheral nerves. The Biology of Schwann Cells concentrates on Schwann cells of mammals and in particular humans. It covers the distinction between compact and non-compact myelin in depth, along with the perisynaptic cells which form the partnership between nerve terminals and muscle fibre. Developmental aspects are discussed alongside differentiation, together with the genetics of Schwann cells in health and disease. With chapters from world-renowned experts, this book is aimed at postgraduates and researchers in neuroscience and neurology, and anyone involved in the study of peripheral nerves.

PATRICIA J. ARMATI is an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Nerve Research Foundation, Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney, Australia, with a long-standing research interest in the biology of Schwann cells.

The Biology of Schwann Cells

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Development, Differentiation and Immunomodulation

Edited by

PATRICIA ARMATI

The University of Sydney,
Australia

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo

Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK

Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York

www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521850209

© Cambridge University Press 2007

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2007

Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data

The biology of Schwann cells : development, differentiation, and immunomodulation / edited by Patricia Armati.
    p. ; cm.
 Includes bibliographical references.
 ISBN-13: 978-0-521-85020-9 (hardback)
 ISBN-10: 0-521-85050-7 (hardback)
 1. Neuroglia.  I. Armati Patricia J.  [DNLM: 1. Schwann Cells—physiology. WL 102 B6164 2007] II. Title.

 QP363.2.B563 2007
 611′.0188—dc22
                           2006037782

ISBN-13 978-0-521-85020-9 hardback
ISBN-10 0-521-85020-7 hardback

Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all the ‘Friends of the Schwann cell’: Theodore Schwann who first named the cell; Richard and Mary Bunge and the unsung Patrick Wood; and also John Pollard my husband, whose ever-enquiring mind, excellence in research and dedication to all those with peripheral nerve diseases inspired my interest in the extraordinary tale of the Schwann cell.

Contents

Preface

It is now over 200 years since Theodore Schwann first described the cell which bears his name. Such early descriptions of nervous system components were done without the powerful microscopes we have today, yet Schwann and Ramon Y. Cajal made foundation observations which still stand. Cajal’s papers, especially, show the power of careful observation, an essential element of good science.

The Schwann cell has been historically underrated and poorly understood. In particular, the myelin-forming Schwann cells or their myelin are still often referred to as a simple ‘sheath’ for the neuron. However, Schwann cells in all their complexity form essential partnerships with neurons, and muscles. This is of particular relevance in the case of the myelin-forming Schwann cell, an enormous cell that expresses unique molecules and complex relationships related to maintenance of the compact and non-compact myelin regions of its plasma membrane. Schwann cells have other complex interactions, not least of which are found where nerve terminals and muscle fibres form the tripartite synapse in association with the perisynaptic Schwann cells. There are also the poorly understood satellite cells that surround the dorsal root ganglion nerve cell bodies, and of course the complexity of non-myelinated Schwann cells and their axonal associations.

It may be that the histopathological prominence of abnormalities of compact myelin has focussed research on this region of the Schwann cell. This is shown by the historical concentration on disturbance of compact myelin in diseases of the peripheral nervous system such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease. The study of the basic biology of this cell is therefore increasingly recognised as an essential element in understanding the development, function and potential for repair of the nervous system, including the central nervous system.

With the development of electron microscopy, molecular biology and genetic techniques, proteomics and other technologies pushing the boundaries of our knowledge, the unravelling of the astounding complexity of all cells including the Schwann cell is well underway. It is therefore timely that the current understanding of this cell be gathered into a book such as The Biology of Schwann Cells.

I would like to thank Dr Ariel Arthur, University of Sydney, Dr Martin Griffiths, Cambridge University Press, and ‘my son’ Mr Damien Pembroke, for their editorial assistance, encouragement and expertise.

Patricia Armati
October 2006

Contributors

Patricia Armati Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Nerve Research Foundation, Blackburn Building D06, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Edgardo J. Arroyo Ph.D.
Research Associate, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Neurology, Rm 460 Stemmler Hall, 3600 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

Joyce A. Benjamins Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Chair for Research, Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

Maria Laura Feltri M.D.
San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy

Zhihua Feng B.S.
Graduate Student, Neurobiology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, USC, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, 3641 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA

Hans-Peter Hartung M.D.
Professor, Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat, Moorenstrasse 5, Dusseldorf, D40225, Germany

Wei Hu M.D.
Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstrasse 5, Dusseldorf, D40225, Germany

Richard A.C. Hughes M.D.
Professor of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College, London, SE1 9UL, UK

Kristján R. Jessen, Ph.D.
Professor of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Bernd C. Kieseier M.D.
Professor of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat, Moorenstrasse 5, Dusseldorf, D40225, Germany

Chien-Ping Ko Ph.D.
Professor, Neurobiology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3641 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA

Jun Li M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4201 St Antoine, UHC-8D, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

Robert P. Lisak, M.D.
Parker Webber Chair in Neurology, Professor and Chair of Neurology, Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4201 St Antoine, UHC-8D, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

Emily Mathey, Ph.D.
Research Fellow, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK

Rhona Mirsky, Ph.D.
Professor of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

John D. Pollard, M.B. B.S., Ph.D.
Bushell Professor of Medicine, Blackburn Building D06, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Steven Scherer M.D., Ph.D.
William N. Kelley Professor of Neurology, The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Room 460 Stemmler Hall, 36th Street and Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6077, USA

Michael Shy, M.D.
Professor of Neurology, Molecular Medicine and Genetics Department, and Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

Yoshie Sugiura Ph.D.
Research Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, 3641 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA

Lawrence Wrabetz M.D.
San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy