Non-cell-autonomous function of DR6 in Schwann cell proliferation.

Death receptor 6 (DR6) is an orphan member of the TNF receptor superfamily and controls cell death and differentiation in a cell-autonomous manner in different cell types. Here, we report an additional non-cell-autonomous function for DR6 in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). DR6-knockout (DR6 KO) mice showed precocious myelination in the PNS Using an myelination assay, we demonstrate that neuronal DR6 acts in on Schwann cells (SCs) and reduces SC proliferation and myelination independently of its cytoplasmic death domain.

The alternative splicing factor Nova2 regulates vascular development and lumen formation.

Vascular lumen formation is a fundamental step during angiogenesis; yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that neural and vascular systems share common anatomical, functional and molecular similarities. Here we show that the organization of endothelial lumen is controlled at the post-transcriptional level by the alternative splicing (AS) regulator Nova2, which was previously considered to be neural cell-specific.

Prostaglandin D2 synthase/GPR44: a signaling axis in PNS myelination.

Neuregulin 1 type III is processed following regulated intramembrane proteolysis, which allows communication from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. We found that the intracellular domain of neuregulin 1 type III upregulated the prostaglandin D2 synthase (L-pgds, also known as Ptgds) gene, which, together with the G protein-coupled receptor Gpr44, forms a previously unknown pathway in PNS myelination. Neuronal L-PGDS is secreted and produces the PGD2 prostanoid, a ligand of Gpr44.