Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration

The activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enhances cell plasticity and plays a pivotal role in driving critical biological processes such as embryonic process, tissue repair, and cancer metastasis. EMT is regulated by multiple signaling pathways, including transforming growth fac...

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Main Authors: Wenyu Dai, Yang Miao, Sheng Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1621380/full
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author Wenyu Dai
Yang Miao
Sheng Yi
author_facet Wenyu Dai
Yang Miao
Sheng Yi
author_sort Wenyu Dai
collection DOAJ
description The activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enhances cell plasticity and plays a pivotal role in driving critical biological processes such as embryonic process, tissue repair, and cancer metastasis. EMT is regulated by multiple signaling pathways, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Wnt, and Notch signaling, and is finely orchestrated by a network of transcriptional factors, epigenetic modifications (such as DNA methylation and histone alterations), and non-coding RNAs. In the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells undergo a distinct EMT-like transformation following nerve injury, adopting a repair phenotype known as repair Schwann cells. These repair Schwann cells play a multifaceted role in nerve regeneration by clearing myelin debris, secreting regeneration-promoting factors, mediating structural reorganization, and creating a conducive microenvironment for axonal regrowth. Therapeutic strategies targeting the regulation of the EMT-like program of Schwann cells thus hold significant promise for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury, particularly in cases of severe nerve injury with incomplete recovery and poor functional restoration.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-251bac04ae6841c1bd476906fe82297f2025-08-20T03:17:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-07-011310.3389/fcell.2025.16213801621380Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regenerationWenyu Dai0Yang Miao1Sheng Yi2Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The First People’s Hospital of Yancheng, The Yancheng Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Yancheng, Jiangsu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, ChinaThe activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enhances cell plasticity and plays a pivotal role in driving critical biological processes such as embryonic process, tissue repair, and cancer metastasis. EMT is regulated by multiple signaling pathways, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Wnt, and Notch signaling, and is finely orchestrated by a network of transcriptional factors, epigenetic modifications (such as DNA methylation and histone alterations), and non-coding RNAs. In the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells undergo a distinct EMT-like transformation following nerve injury, adopting a repair phenotype known as repair Schwann cells. These repair Schwann cells play a multifaceted role in nerve regeneration by clearing myelin debris, secreting regeneration-promoting factors, mediating structural reorganization, and creating a conducive microenvironment for axonal regrowth. Therapeutic strategies targeting the regulation of the EMT-like program of Schwann cells thus hold significant promise for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury, particularly in cases of severe nerve injury with incomplete recovery and poor functional restoration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1621380/fullSchwann cellsmesenchymal-epithelial transition-like programperipheral nerve injurycell plasticitynerve regeneration
spellingShingle Wenyu Dai
Yang Miao
Sheng Yi
Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Schwann cells
mesenchymal-epithelial transition-like program
peripheral nerve injury
cell plasticity
nerve regeneration
title Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration
title_full Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration
title_fullStr Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration
title_full_unstemmed Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration
title_short Schwann cell reprogramming via EMT-like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration
title_sort schwann cell reprogramming via emt like program following peripheral nerve injury and during nerve regeneration
topic Schwann cells
mesenchymal-epithelial transition-like program
peripheral nerve injury
cell plasticity
nerve regeneration
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1621380/full
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AT shengyi schwanncellreprogrammingviaemtlikeprogramfollowingperipheralnerveinjuryandduringnerveregeneration