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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Two-photon Imaging of Cellular Dynamics in the Mouse Spinal Cord
Published on: February 22, 2015
The conceptual introduction of the "demyelinating Schwann cell" in peripheral demyelinating neuropathies
Hwan Tae Park1, Jong Kuk Kim2, Nicolas Tricaud3
1Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Peripheral Neuropathy Research Center, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea.
Abstract:
Myelinating Schwann cells undergo irreversible demyelination in many demyelinating neuropathies that show complete demyelination of the internode. Dedifferentiation, reprogramming, and myelin clearance processes-which are specifically discussed in this article-appear to be shared by various demyelinating peripheral conditions, such as Wallerian degeneration, immune-mediated, and toxic demyelinating diseases. We propose to introduce the concept of the "demyelinating Schwann cell (DSC)" as a novel cell phenotype, which has specific properties required for myelin sheath clearance. We anticipate that the introduction of the DSC concept will provide a significant advance in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of demyelinating peripheral neuropathies.
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