Wu Hao, Syoichi Tashiro, Tomoka Hasegawa, Yuiko Sato, Tami Kobayashi, Toshimi Tando, Eri Katsuyama, Atsuhiro Fujie, Ryuichi Watanabe, Mayu Morita, Kana Miyamoto, Hideo Morioka, Masaya Nakamura, Morio Matsumoto, Norio Amizuka, Yoshiaki Toyama, Takeshi Miyamoto
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is frequently accompanied by complications, such as peripheral nerve neuropathy. Schwann cells play a pivotal role in regulating peripheral nerve function and conduction velocity; however, changes in Schwann cell differentiation status in DM are not fully understood. Here, we report that Schwann cells de-differentiate into immature cells under hyperglycemic conditions as a result of sorbitol accumulation and decreased Igf1 expression in those cells. We found that de-differentiated Schwann cells could be re-differentiated in vitro into mature cells by treatment with an aldose reductase inhibitor, to reduce sorbitol levels, or with vitamin D3, to elevate Igf1 expression...
July 10, 2015: Journal of Biological Chemistry