Background: Schwann cells (SCs) have been supposed to play prominent roles in axonal regeneration under various diseases. Here, to evaluate the direct interaction between SCs and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons under a diabetic condition, the effects of Schwann cell-conditioned media on neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons were investigated.
Methods: Immortalized mouse Schwann cells (IMS) were cultured under 5.5 mM glucose (NG) or 30 mM glucose (HG) conditions for 4 days. IMS-conditioned media (IMS-media) were added to the culture media of neurons isolated from 8-week-old DDY mice. Neurons were cultured for 48 h with or without mouse recombinant NGF (mrNGF) or nerve growth factor (NGF) neutralizing antibody. The concentrations of NGF in IMS-media by ELISA and neurite outgrowth by a computed image analysis system were evaluated.
Results: Neurite outgrowth was significantly enhanced by IMS-media (IMS-media (-): 177+/-177 microm, IMS-media (+): 1648+/-726). The neurite outgrowth cultured with IMS-media obtained under the HG condition was significantly reduced compared with that under the NG condition (NG: 1474+/-652, HG: 734+/-331). The NGF concentrations were significantly lower in IMS-media under the HG condition than in those under the NG condition. The accelerated neurite outgrowth by IMS-media was inhibited by NGF neutralizing antibody.
Conclusions: These results suggest that SCs play important roles in neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons, and that the decreased NGF secretion by SCs under the diabetic condition would cause a defect of axonal regeneration, resulting in the development of diabetic neuropathy.