Project description:The remarkable plasticity of Schwann cells (SCs) is essential for nerve regeneration but also contributes to neuropathies and cancer progression. It has not yet been investigated whether the adaptive potential of SCs is manifested in stromal, tumor associated SCs characteristically found within a benign subtype of neuroblastic tumors (NBTs). We here performed transcriptome profiling of human NBTs, rich and poor in SC stroma, as well as human injured nerves, rich in repair SCs, revealing that stromal SCs exhibit a repair SC characteristic gene expression signature. In turn, primary repair SCs had a pro-differentiating and anti-proliferative effect on NBT cell lines after direct and trans-well co-culture. Within the pool of secreted stromal/repair SC factors, we identified EGFL8, a matricellular protein with so far undescribed function, to induce neuronal differentiation of aggressive NBT cells. EGFL8 expression further correlated with favorable tumor stage and increased patient survival. Our findings suggest that stromal SCs exert nerve repair associated functions in the tumor-environment and underline the therapeutic value of SC-derived factors for aggressive, SC stroma-poor NBTs.
Project description:The remarkable plasticity of Schwann cells (SCs) is essential for nerve regeneration but also contributes to neuropathies and cancer progression. It has not yet been investigated whether the adaptive potential of SCs is manifested in stromal, tumor associated SCs characteristically found within a benign subtype of neuroblastic tumors (NBTs). We here performed transcriptome profiling of human NBTs, rich and poor in SC stroma, as well as human injured nerves, rich in repair SCs, revealing that stromal SCs exhibit a repair SC characteristic gene expression signature. In turn, primary repair SCs had a pro-differentiating and anti-proliferative effect on NBT cell lines after direct and trans-well co-culture. Within the pool of secreted stromal/repair SC factors, we identified EGFL8, a matricellular protein with so far undescribed function, to induce neuronal differentiation of aggressive NBT cells. EGFL8 expression further correlated with favorable tumor stage and increased patient survival. Our findings suggest that stromal SCs exert nerve repair associated functions in the tumor-environment and underline the therapeutic value of SC-derived factors for aggressive, SC stroma-poor NBTs.
Project description:The remarkable plasticity of Schwann cells (SCs) is essential for nerve regeneration but also contributes to neuropathies and cancer progression. It has not yet been investigated whether the adaptive potential of SCs is manifested in stromal, tumor associated SCs characteristically found within a benign subtype of neuroblastic tumors (NBTs). We here performed transcriptome profiling of human NBTs, rich and poor in SC stroma, as well as human injured nerves, rich in repair SCs, revealing that stromal SCs exhibit a repair SC characteristic gene expression signature. In turn, primary repair SCs had a pro-differentiating and anti-proliferative effect on NBT cell lines after direct and trans-well co-culture. Within the pool of secreted stromal/repair SC factors, we identified EGFL8, a matricellular protein with so far undescribed function, to induce neuronal differentiation of aggressive NBT cells. EGFL8 expression further correlated with favorable tumor stage and increased patient survival. Our findings suggest that stromal SCs exert nerve repair associated functions in the tumor-environment and underline the therapeutic value of SC-derived factors for aggressive, SC stroma-poor NBTs.
Project description:The effects of Schwann cells on the neuro-stroma niche in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain to be explored. Here, single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptome analysis of PDAC tissues reveals that Schwann cells induce malignant subtypes of tumour cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Mass Spectrometry (MS) were performed to detected the potential functional factors secreted by Schwann cells.
Project description:The striking PNS regenerative response to injury rests on the plasticity of adult Schwann cells and their ability to transit between differentiation states, a highly unusual feature in mammals. Using mice with inactivation of Schwann cell c-Jun, we show that the injury response involves c-Jun dependent natural reprograming of differentiated cells to generate a distinct Schwann cell state specialized to promote regeneration. Transected distal stumps of c-Jun mutants show 172 disregulated genes, resulting in abnormal expression of growth factors, adhesion molecules and cytoskeletal changes that lead to neuronal death, inhibition of axon growth and striking failures of functional repair after injury. These observations provide a molecular basis for understanding Schwann cell plasticity and nerve regeneration. They offer conclusive support for the notion that Schwann cells control repair in the PNS, using dedicated transcriptional controls to generate a distinct repair cell, a transition that shows similarities to transdifferentiation seen in other systems. Total RNA was purified from a 10mm segment of the distal stump and uninjured contralateral nerve from c-Jun mutants and control mice 7 days after nerve cut. For each condition (injured/uninjured) and genotype (control/ knock-out) 2 independent samples (replicates) were generated from pooled nerves of 4/6 mice resulting in a total of 8 samples: CTRL.cut.R1, CTRL.cut.R2, CTRL.uncut.R1, CTRL.uncut.R2, KO.cut.R1, KO.cut.R2, KO.uncut.R1,KO.uncut.R2.
Project description:The striking PNS regenerative response to injury rests on the plasticity of adult Schwann cells and their ability to transit between differentiation states, a highly unusual feature in mammals. Using mice with inactivation of Schwann cell c-Jun, we show that the injury response involves c-Jun dependent natural reprograming of differentiated cells to generate a distinct Schwann cell state specialized to promote regeneration. Transected distal stumps of c-Jun mutants show 172 disregulated genes, resulting in abnormal expression of growth factors, adhesion molecules and cytoskeletal changes that lead to neuronal death, inhibition of axon growth and striking failures of functional repair after injury. These observations provide a molecular basis for understanding Schwann cell plasticity and nerve regeneration. They offer conclusive support for the notion that Schwann cells control repair in the PNS, using dedicated transcriptional controls to generate a distinct repair cell, a transition that shows similarities to transdifferentiation seen in other systems.