Interaction between Schwann cells and other cells during repair of peripheral nerve injury

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 93 - 98
• Main Authors: Qu, Wen-Rui, Zhu, Zhe, Liu, Jun, Song, De-Biao, Tian, Heng, Chen, Bing-Peng, Li, Rui, Deng, Ling-Xiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2021; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Department of Hand Surgery,the Second Hospital of Jilin University,Changchun,Jilin Province,China%Department of Emergency and Critical Medicine,the Second Hospital of Jilin University,Changchun,Jilin Province,China%Orthopedic Medical Center,the Second Hospital of Jilin University,Changchun,Jilin Province,China%Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute,Department of Neurological Surgery,Indiana University School of Medicine,Indianapolis,IN,USA; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: axon regeneration; cell-cell interactions; nerve injury; nerve repair; peripheral nerve; recovery; regeneration; repair; schwann cell migration; Cell interactions; Development and progression; Fibroblasts; Health aspects; Nerve regeneration; Neurological research; Peripheral nervous system diseases; Physiological aspects; Review; Schwann cells; China; repair; Schwann cell migration; peripheral nerve; regeneration; nerve injury; axon regeneration; nerve repair; recovery; cell-cell interactions
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.286956

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is common and, unlike damage to the central nervous system injured nerves can effectively regenerate depending on the location and severity of injury. Peripheral myelinating glia, Schwann cells (SCs), interact with various cells in and around the injury site and are important for debris elimination, repair, and nerve regeneration. Following PNI, Wallerian degeneration of the distal stump is rapidly initiated by degeneration of damaged axons followed by morphologic changes in SCs and the recruitment of circulating macrophages. Interaction with fibroblasts from the injured nerve microenvironment also plays a role in nerve repair. The replication and migration of injury-induced dedifferentiated SCs are also important in repairing the nerve. In particular, SC migration stimulates axonal regeneration and subsequent myelination of regenerated nerve fibers. This mobility increases SC interactions with other cells in the nerve and the exogenous environment, which influence SC behavior post-injury. Following PNI, SCs directly and indirectly interact with other SCs, fibroblasts, and macrophages. In addition, the inter- and intracellular mechanisms that underlie morphological and functional changes in SCs following PNI still require further research to explain known phenomena and less understood cell-specific roles in the repair of the injured peripheral nerve. This review provides a basic assessment of SC function post-PNI, as well as a more comprehensive evaluation of the literature concerning the SC interactions with macrophages and fibroblasts that can influence SC behavior and, ultimately, repair of the injured nerve.