Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Analyzing Murine Schwann Cell Development Along Growing Axons
Published on: November 21, 2012
TGFbeta1 modulates the phenotype of Schwann cells at the transcriptional level
Rajeshwar Awatramani1, Susan Shumas, John Kamholz
1Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Elliman Building 3206, 421 East Canfield, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Abstract:
We have examined the effects of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) on gene expression in cultured rat Schwann cells (SCs). TGFbeta1 decreased the steady-state mRNA levels of several genes that are expressed by myelinating SCs but had varied effects on the mRNA levels of NCAM, L1, GAP-43, and p75-genes that are expressed by denervated and nonmyelinating SCs. TGFbeta1 antagonized the effects of forskolin on the mRNA levels of the transcription factors Oct-6/tst-1/SCIP and Krox20. Transcriptional run-off analysis demonstrated that the effects of TGFbeta1 on gene expression occur at least in part at the level of transcription. Thus, TGFbeta1 suppresses the expression of genes that characterize the different phenotypes of SCs, and these changes occur at least in part at a transcriptional level.
Related Concept Videos
Transcription Factors
General Transcription Factors
TGF - β Signaling Pathway

