Pleiotrophin Cellular Localization in Nerve Regeneration after Peripheral Nerve Injury

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a member of the family of heparin-binding growth factors that displays mitogenic activities and promotes neurite outgrowth in vitro. In vivo, PTN is widely expressed along pathways of developing axons during the late embryonic and early postnatal period. Although the level of P...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry 2005-08, Vol.53 (8), p.971-977
Main Authors: Blondet, Brigitte, Carpentier, Gilles, Lafdil, Fouad, Courty, Jose
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Axons - metabolism
Biomarkers - metabolism
Carrier Proteins - metabolism
Cytokines - metabolism
Endothelial Cells - metabolism
Fluorescent Dyes
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Immunohistochemistry
Macrophages - metabolism
Mice
Myelin Sheath - metabolism
Nerve Crush
Nerve Regeneration
Schwann Cells - metabolism
Sciatic Nerve - cytology
Sciatic Nerve - metabolism
Sciatic Nerve - physiology
Software
Spectrometry, Fluorescence
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Summary:Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a member of the family of heparin-binding growth factors that displays mitogenic activities and promotes neurite outgrowth in vitro. In vivo, PTN is widely expressed along pathways of developing axons during the late embryonic and early postnatal period. Although the level of PTN gene expression is very low during adulthood, activation of the gene may occur during recovery from injury and seems to play an important role in tissue regeneration processes. In this study, we investigated whether PTN was involved in the regenerative process of injured peripheral nerves. To refer localization of the fluorescent markers to myelinated axons, we developed a specific computer tool for colocalization of fluorescence images with phase contrast images. Immunohistochemical analysis showed PTN in different types of nonneural cells in distal nerve segments, including Schwann cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells, but not in axons. Schwann cells exhibited PTN immunoreactivity as early as 2 days after injury, whereas PTN-positive macrophages were found 1 week later. Strong PTN immunoreactivity was noted in endothelial cells at all time points. These findings support the idea that PTN participates in the adaptive response to peripheral nerve injury. A better understanding of its contribution may suggest new strategies for enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.
ISSN:0022-1554
1551-5044
DOI:10.1369/jhc.4A6574.2005