Scientists write in the journal Nature Communications it may be possible to therapeutically fine tune a constantly shifting balance of molecular signals to ensure the body’s peripheral nerves are properly insulated and functioning normally. In a study published April 26, they suggest this may be a way to treat neuropathies or prevent the development of peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

The study was led by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. It sought to identify the genetic and molecular networks that control the balanced proliferation and differentiation of Schwann cells in peripheral nerves – a question that so far has remained unanswered. Schwann cells form a protective myelin sheath around nerves, which acts as insulation to ensure rapid transmission of neural signals to limbs and other parts of the body.

The researchers discovered that genetic dysfunction in what they call the HIPPO–TAZ/YAP and Galphas–protein feedback circuit disrupts the balanced production of Schwann cells.

If Schwann cell numbers are too sparse and widely–spaced, insufficient insulating myelin forms around nerves, leading to nerve insulation defects in the peripheral nerves of laboratory mice. An overabundance of Schwann cells in people with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis 1 and 2 (who have mutations in the NF1 or NF2 tumor suppressor gene) has been linked to development of nerve sheath tumors.

“These findings will lead to future studies aimed at modulating or fine tuning the dynamic balance between YAP/TAZ and Galphas, and this may lead to new therapeutic strategies,” said Q. Richard Lu, PhD, co–lead investigator and scientific director of the Brain Tumor Center at Cincinnati Children’s. “These strategies would focus on promoting myelination in the peripheral nervous system for neuropathic disease or inhibiting Schwann cell over–proliferation that occurs during formation of peripheral nerve sheath tumors like neurofibromas.”

Collaborating on the study was co–lead investigator Mei Xin, PhD, and co–first authors Yaqi Deng, PhD and Lai Man Natalie Wu, PhD (all in the Division of Experimental Biology and Cancer Biology at Cincinnati Children’s).

The researchers stress that, because the study was conducted with mice, additional research is required before it can confirmed whether the data will apply directly to human health.