Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (6): 1364-1370.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.354517

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Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor regulate the interaction between astrocytes and Schwann cells at the trigeminal root entry zone

Madeha Ishag Adam1, #, Ling Lin2, #, Amir Mahmoud Makin3, Xiao-Fen Zhang1, Lu-Xi Zhou1, Xin-Yue Liao1, Li Zhao1, Feng Wang1, *, Dao-Shu Luo1, *   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases of Fujian Province, Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China; 2Public Technology Service Center of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China; 3Center for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Institute of Oceanic and Environmental Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
  • Online:2023-06-15 Published:2023-01-05
  • Contact: Dao-Shu Luo, PhD, luods2004@fjmu.edu.cn; Feng Wang, PhD, fjwf95168@163.com.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2021, No. 82171213; and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province in 2019, No. 2019J01289 (both to DSL).

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Abstract: The trigeminal root entry zone is the zone at which the myelination switches from peripheral Schwann cells to central oligodendrocytes. Its special anatomical and physiological structure renders it susceptible to nerve injury. The etiology of most primary trigeminal neuralgia is closely related to microvascular compression of the trigeminal root entry zone. This study aimed to develop an efficient in vitro model mimicking the glial environment of trigeminal root entry zone as a tool to investigate the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor on the structural and functional integrity of trigeminal root entry zone and modulation of cellular interactions. Primary astrocytes and Schwann cells isolated from trigeminal root entry zone of postnatal rats were inoculated into a two-well silicon culture insert to mimic the trigeminal root entry zone microenvironment and treated with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In monoculture, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the migration of Schwann cells, but it did not have effects on the migration of astrocytes. In the co-culture system, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the bidirectional migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor markedly promoted the activation and migration of astrocytes. However, in the co-culture system, brain-derived neurotrophic factor inhibited the migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells to a certain degree. These findings suggest that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are involved in the regulation of the astrocyte-Schwann cell interaction in the co-culture system derived from the trigeminal root entry zone. This system can be used as a cell model to study the mechanism of glial dysregulation associated with trigeminal nerve injury and possible therapeutic interventions. 

Key words: astrocytes, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, cell migration, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, glial interaction, Schwann cells, trigeminal nerve