PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Yi, Sheng
AU  - Liu, Qianyan
AU  - Wang, Xinghui
AU  - Qian, Tianmei
AU  - Wang, Hongkui
AU  - Zha, Guangbin
AU  - Yu, Jun
AU  - Wang, Pan
AU  - Gu, Xiaosong
AU  - Chu, Dandan
AU  - Li, Shiying
TI  - Tau modulates Schwann cell proliferation, migration and differentiation following peripheral nerve injury
AID  - 10.1242/jcs.222059
DP  - 2019 Mar 15
TA  - Journal of Cell Science
PG  - jcs222059
VI  - 132
IP  - 6
4099  - http://jcs.biologists.org/content/132/6/jcs222059.short
4100  - http://jcs.biologists.org/content/132/6/jcs222059.full
SO  - J. Cell Sci.2019 Mar 15; 132
AB  - Tau protein (encoded by the gene microtubule-associated protein tau, Mapt) is essential for the assembly and stability of microtubule and the functional maintenance of the nervous system. Tau is highly abundant in neurons and is detectable in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. However, whether tau is present in Schwann cells, the unique glial cells in the peripheral nervous system, is unclear. Here, we investigated the presence of tau and its coding mRNA, Mapt, in cultured Schwann cells and find that tau is present in these cells. Gene silencing of Mapt promoted Schwann cell proliferation and inhibited Schwann cell migration and differentiation. In vivo application of Mapt siRNA suppressed the migration of Schwann cells after sciatic nerve injury. Consistent with this, Mapt-knockout mice showed elevated proliferation and reduced migration of Schwann cells. Rats injected with Mapt siRNA and Mapt-knockout mice also exhibited impaired myelin and lipid debris clearance. The expression and distribution of the cytoskeleton proteins α-tubulin and F-actin were also disrupted in these animals. These findings demonstrate the existence and biological effects of tau in Schwann cells, and expand our understanding of the function of tau in the nervous system.