Salk researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding and potentially treating peripheral neuropathy, a condition affecting over 3 million people in the United States annually. This condition damages nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, causing pain and loss of sensation due to factors such as diabetes, injuries, genetic diseases, and infections.
The study, soon to be published in Cell Reports, reveals that a protein called Mitf plays a crucial role in activating the repair function of specialized Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cells protect and support neurons’ axons, and the discovery suggests that Mitf prompts these cells to enter a repair state, facilitating the healing of damaged nerves.
Professor Samuel Pfaff, the senior author, expressed interest in understanding how peripheral nerves respond to various conditions, including trauma, genetic disorders, and degenerative diseases. The research focused on Schwann cells and neurons in the peripheral nervous system, which differs from the central nervous system’s limited ability to repair damage.
The team investigated mouse models of Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT), a hereditary neuropathy, and found that Mitf plays a key role in repairing damage caused by chronic diseases. Removing Mitf halted nerve repair in both trauma and CMT scenarios, emphasizing its essential role in peripheral nerve repair and regeneration.
The surprising discovery was Mitf’s ability to orchestrate repairs even during chronic diseases like CMT. Lydia Daboussi, the first author, compared Mitf to a fire extinguisher, present in Schwann cells but activated only when damage occurs. Removing Mitf hindered the repair process, indicating its necessity for peripheral nerve repair.
Pfaff highlighted the potential of harnessing Schwann cell repair programs in treating chronic diseases, suggesting targeted therapeutics could prompt more cells to repair peripheral nerve damage. Additionally, the newfound understanding of repair mechanisms opens possibilities for exploring repairs in the brain stem and spinal cord. This breakthrough offers hope for future therapies improving repair functions and healing in cases of peripheral neuropathy.
