Proteomic Profile of Human Schwann Cells

Schwann cells (SC) are essential for the growth, maintenance, and regeneration of peripheral nerves, but the proteome of normal human SC is poorly defined. Here, a proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS is performed to define the protein expression profile of primary human SC. A total of 19 557 unique peptides corresponding to 1553 individual proteins are identified. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), Gene Ontology (GO), and Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) are used to assign protein localization and function, and to define enriched pathways. EIF2, mTOR, and integrin signaling are among the most enriched pathways and the most enriched biological function is cell-cell adhesion, which is in agreement with the supportive role of SC in peripheral nerves. In addition, several nociceptors and synaptic proteins are identified and may contribute to the recently discovered role of SC in pain sensation and cancer progression. This proteome analysis of normal human SC constitutes a reference for future molecular explorations of physiological and pathological processes where SC are involved.