TGFβ Type II Receptor Signaling Controls Schwann Cell Death and Proliferation in Developing Nerves

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1578-06.2006
• Publication Date: 2006-08-16T19:42:55Z
• Authors: Maurizio D’Antonio; Anna Droggiti; M. Laura Feltri; Jürgen Roes; Lawrence Wrabetz; Rhona Mirsky; Kristján R. Jessen
• Keywords: Schwann cell

During development, Schwann cell numbers are precisely adjusted to match the number of axons. It is essentially unknown which growth factors or receptors carry out this important control in vivo . Here, we tested whether type II transforming factor (TGF) β receptor has a role process. We generated conditional knock-out mouse TGFβ specifically ablated only cells. Inactivation receptor, evident at least from embryonic day 18, resulted suppressed death normally developing and injured nerves. Notably, mutants also showed strong reduction proliferation. Consequently, wild-type mutant nerves remained similar. Lack signaling did not appear affect other processes had been implicated previously, including myelination response adult injury. This first evidence for involved promoting division during development genetic that controls normal developmental death.