Expression of dystroglycan and laminin-2 in peripheral nerve under axonal degeneration and regeneration

In Schwann cells, the transmembrane glycoprotein beta-dystroglycan composes the dystroglycan complex, together with the extracellular glycoprotein alpha-dystroglycan which binds laminin-2, a major component of the Schwann cell basal lamina. To provide clues to the biological functions of the interaction of the dystroglycan complex with laminin-2 in peripheral nerve, the expression of beta-dystroglycan and laminin-alpha2 chain was studied in rat sciatic nerves undergoing axonal degeneration and regeneration as well as in normal condition. In normal sciatic nerve, immunoreactivity for the cytoplasmic domain of beta-dystroglycan was consistently and selectively localized in the Schwann cell cytoplasm underlying the outer (abaxonal) membrane apposing the basal lamina. While beta-dystroglycan expression was gradually down-regulated in Schwann cells losing contact with axons during axonal degeneration, it was progressively up-regulated as the regenerating process of ensheathment and myelination proceeded during regeneration. Interestingly, beta-dystroglycan expression, when detectable, was always restricted to the Schwann cell cytoplasm beneath the outer membrane apposing the basal lamina during both axonal degeneration and regeneration. Furthermore, laminin-alpha2 immunoreactivity roughly paralleled that of beta-dystroglycan during both axonal degeneration and regeneration, indicating that the expression of beta-dystroglycan and laminin-alpha2 is induced and maintained by the Schwann cell contact with axons. Our results indicate that the dystroglycan complex is involved in the adhesion of the Schwann cell outer membrane with the basal lamina and suggest that the dystroglycan complex may play a role in the process of Schwann cell ensheathment and myelination through the interaction with laminin-2.