Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Jun;103(6):e70053.
doi: 10.1002/jnr.70053.

Transcription Factors and Coregulators in Schwann Cell Differentiation, Myelination, and Remyelination: Implications for Peripheral Neuropathy

Sang-Heum Han  1   2   3 , Jun-Gi Cho  1   2   3 , Su-Jeong Park  1   2   3 , Yoon Kyung Shin  2 , Young Bin Hong  1   2   3 , Jin-Yeong Han  4 , Hwan Tae Park  2   3   5 , Joo-In Park  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Transcription Factors and Coregulators in Schwann Cell Differentiation, Myelination, and Remyelination: Implications for Peripheral Neuropathy

Sang-Heum Han et al. J Neurosci Res. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Schwann cells (SCs) are required for supporting axons, forming myelin, and facilitating repair through remyelination after injury in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Processes of differentiation, myelination, and remyelination of SCs are tightly modulated by a complex network of transcription factors and coregulators, including Sox10, Oct6/Pou3f1, Krox20/Egr2, Nab1/2, YY1, COUP-TFII/NR2F2, YAP/TAZ-TEAD1, c-Jun, Sox2, Zeb2, and Etv1/Er81. These factors can regulate the expression of essential target genes such as Mpz and Mbp in SC myelination and repair. Genetic mutations or dysregulation within this network can lead to peripheral neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. However, the transcriptional regulatory network of differentiation, myelination, and remyelination of SCs has not been fully understood yet. Thus, this review briefly introduces processes of differentiation, myelination, and remyelination of SCs and explores the role and molecular mechanisms of each transcription factor and coregulator in differentiation and myelination of SCs and their remyelination following nerve injury. Clinical implications for peripheral neuropathies associated with specific gene mutations and variations of transcription factors and coregulators affecting SC biology are also discussed.

Keywords: SC differentiation; coregulator; myelination; remyelination; transcription factor.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Abe, H., M. Okazawa, and S. Nakanishi. 2011. “The Etv1/Er81 Transcription Factor Orchestrates Activity‐Dependent Gene Regulation in the Terminal Maturation Program of Cerebellar Granule Cells.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108, no. 30: 12497–12502. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1109940108.
    1. Aberle, T., A. Walter, S. Piefke, et al. 2023. “Sox10 Activity and the Timing of Schwann Cell Differentiation Are Controlled by a Tle4‐Dependent Negative Feedback Loop.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25, no. 10: 5234. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms.25105234.
    1. Andorfer, B., B. C. Kieseier, E. Mathey, et al. 2001. “Expression and Distribution of Transcription Factor NF‐κB and Inhibitor IκB in the Inflamed Peripheral Nervous System.” Journal of Neuroimmunology 116, no. 2: 226–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165‐5728(01)00306‐x.
    1. Arber, S., D. R. Ladle, J. H. Lin, E. Frank, and T. M. Jessell. 2000. “ETS Gene Er81 Controls the Formation of Functional Connections Between Group Ia Sensory Afferents and Motor Neurons.” Cell 101, no. 5: 485–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092‐8674(00)80859‐4.
    1. Arroyo, E. J., J. R. Bermingham Jr., M. G. Rosenfeld, and S. S. Scherer. 1998. “Promyelinating Schwann Cells Express Tst‐1/SCIP/Oct‐6.” Journal of Neuroscience 18, no. 19: 7891–7902. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18‐19‐07891.1998.

MeSH terms

Substances