Schwann Cell

Cellula Schwanni

The peripheral nervous system's myelin-maker, one Schwann cell per axonal internode, and a remarkable capacity for regeneration after injury.

Function

Myelinates peripheral nerves and supports their regeneration after injury, a capacity the CNS lacks. After axotomy, Schwann cells dedifferentiate into a 'repair' state that clears debris and guides axon regrowth.

Morphology

An elongated cell wrapping a single axonal segment in a tight myelin spiral. Non-myelinating Schwann cells instead ensheath several small-caliber axons in Remak bundles without forming compact myelin.

Specification

  • Receptors: Neuregulin; Purinergic
  • Location: Peripheral nervous system, sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves.
  • Projections: Axons (PNS)
  • Firing: Non-spiking
  • Markers: SOX10; MPZ/P0; PMP22; MBP (myelinating); S100B (broad); NGFR/p75 (immature/repair)
  • Developmental origin: Neural crest
  • Disease: Guillain-Barré syndrome (autoimmune PNS demyelination); Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (hereditary, CMT1A is typically a PMP22 duplication).
  • Cell Ontology: CL:0002573

References

  1. Jessen KR & Mirsky R (2019). The Success and Failure of the Schwann Cell Response to Nerve Injury.. Front Cell Neurosci 13: 33 PMID 30804758
  2. Lupski JR et al. (1991). DNA duplication associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A.. Cell 66: 219–232 PMID 1677316

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