Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
10:16
Hypoxic Preconditioning of Marrow-derived Progenitor Cells As a Source for the Generation of Mature Schwann Cells
Published on: June 14, 2017
Mighty bugs: leprosy bacteria turn schwann cells into stem cells
1Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. m.wegner@biochem.uni-erlangen.de
Cell
|January 22, 2013
Summary
The leprosy bacterium infects Schwann cells and induces them to become stem-like cells. These cells then change into other cell types, aiding the bacteria
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Intracellular parasites face challenges in systemic spread when restricted to specific host cell types.
- The leprosy bacterium (Mycobacterium leprae) primarily infects Schwann cells.
Discussion:
- Masaki et al. demonstrate a novel mechanism for bacterial systemic spread.
- The study reveals how Mycobacterium leprae manipulates host cell differentiation.
- Dedifferentiation of Schwann cells into stem-like cells is a key finding.
Key Insights:
- Mycobacterium leprae induces Schwann cell dedifferentiation into cells with stem cell properties.
- These reprogrammed cells can subsequently redifferentiate into mesodermal lineages.
- This process facilitates the systemic spread of the leprosy bacterium.
Outlook:
- Understanding this mechanism could lead to new therapeutic strategies against leprosy.
- Further research may explore similar strategies in other host-pathogen interactions.
- Investigating the precise molecular pathways involved in Schwann cell reprogramming is warranted.
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