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Laminins in Peripheral Nerve Development and Muscular Dystrophy

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Abstract

Laminins are extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that play an important role in cellular function and tissue morphogenesis. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), laminins are expressed in Schwann cells and participate in their development. Mutations in laminin subunits expressed in the PNS and in skeleton muscle may cause peripheral neuropathies and muscular dystrophy in both humans and mice. Recent studies using gene knockout technology, such as cell-type specific gene targeting techniques, revealed that laminins and their receptors mediate Schwann cell and axon interactions. Schwann cells with disrupted laminin expression exhibit impaired proliferation and differentiation and also undergo apoptosis. In this review, we focus on the potential molecular mechanisms by which laminins participate in the development of Schwann cells.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prabhjot Dhadialla and Dr. Erin Norris for the comments on the manuscript, and Dr. Sidney Strickland and Dr. Karen Carlson for the useful discussion. Work in our laboratory is supported by grants from the NIH (NS035704-08 and NS038472-07), the Adelson Program in Neuronal Repair and Rehabilitation, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA4066).

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  1. Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Wei-Ming Yu, Huaxu Yu & Zu-Lin Chen

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  1. Wei-Ming Yu
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Yu, WM., Yu, H. & Chen, ZL. Laminins in Peripheral Nerve Development and Muscular Dystrophy. Mol Neurobiol 35, 288–297 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-007-0026-x

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