Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, United States; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, United States
Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, United States; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, United States
Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, United States; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, United States
Kerilyn Godbe
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, United States
John Chappell
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, United States
Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, United States; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, United States; Department of Neurology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, United States
Perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs) are specialized, non-myelinating, synaptic glia of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), that participate in synapse development, function, maintenance, and repair. The study of PSCs has relied on an anatomy-based approach, as the identities of cell-specific PSC molecular markers have remained elusive. This limited approach has precluded our ability to isolate and genetically manipulate PSCs in a cell specific manner. We have identified neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2) as a unique molecular marker of S100β+ PSCs in skeletal muscle. NG2 is expressed in Schwann cells already associated with the NMJ, indicating that it is a marker of differentiated PSCs. Using a newly generated transgenic mouse in which PSCs are specifically labeled, we show that PSCs have a unique molecular signature that includes genes known to play critical roles in PSCs and synapses. These findings will serve as a springboard for revealing drivers of PSC differentiation and function.
