Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Analyzing Murine Schwann Cell Development Along Growing Axons
09:46

Analyzing Murine Schwann Cell Development Along Growing Axons

Published on: November 21, 2012

Interleukin-6 production by Schwann cells and induction in sciatic nerve injury

L M Bolin1, A N Verity, J E Silver

  • 1DNAX Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1104.

Journal of Neurochemistry
|February 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Schwann cells, a type of nerve cell, produce Interleukin-6 (IL-6) when stimulated. This IL-6 promotes neuronal differentiation and aids in nerve regeneration after injury.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Schwann cells are crucial for peripheral nerve function and regeneration.
  • Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with diverse roles in inflammation and cell differentiation.
  • The role of IL-6 in Schwann cell biology and nerve regeneration is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the production and function of IL-6 by Schwann cells.
  • To determine the stimuli that induce IL-6 production in Schwann cells.
  • To explore the role of IL-6 in peripheral nerve regeneration in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Coculture of immortalized Schwann cells (iSC) with PC12 cells.
  • Northern blot analysis to detect IL-6 mRNA expression.
  • Neutralization assays using anti-IL-6 antisera.
  • In vivo sciatic nerve crush injury model.

Main Results:

  • iSC produced IL-6 when cocultured with PC12 cells, inducing neuronal differentiation.
  • IL-6 production was induced by various stimuli, including lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
  • IL-6 mRNA was upregulated in the sciatic nerve distal to a crush injury within 12 hours.

Conclusions:

  • Schwann cells produce IL-6 in response to cellular interactions and inflammatory stimuli.
  • IL-6 produced by Schwann cells can promote neuronal differentiation.
  • IL-6 induction in Schwann cells following nerve injury suggests a role in peripheral nerve regeneration.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Gene Transfer to Schwann Cells in the Rodent Sciatic Nerve by Electroporation05:40

In Vivo Gene Transfer to Schwann Cells in the Rodent Sciatic Nerve by Electroporation

Published on: September 8, 2016

In Vitro Myelination of Peripheral Axons in a Coculture of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants and Schwann Cells08:57

In Vitro Myelination of Peripheral Axons in a Coculture of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants and Schwann Cells

Published on: February 10, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue01:15

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...