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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Analysis of Schwann-astrocyte Interactions Using In Vitro Assays
Published on: January 13, 2011
Axon-Schwann cell interactions regulate the expression of fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5)
M Scarlato1, T Xu, P Bannerman
1Neurology Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Abstract:
We screened for genes whose expression is significantly up- or downregulated during Wallerian degeneration in adult rat sciatic nerve with cDNA arrays. Fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) mRNA seemed to be induced. This was confirmed by northern blotting and in situ hybridization, as well as Western blotting for FGF-5 in axotomized nerve. Axon-Schwann cell interactions decreased the steady-state level of FGF-5 mRNA in regenerating sciatic nerves, and forskolin diminished its expression in cultured Schwann cells. We conclude that denervated Schwann cells synthesize FGF-5, which is a secreted, neuronotrophic member of the FGF family.
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