Oct-6 (SCIP/Tst-1) is expressed in Schwann cell precursors, embryonic Schwann cells, and postnatal myelinating Schwann cells: comparison with Oct-1, Krox-20, and Pax-3

J Neurosci Res. 1996 Dec 1;46(5):630-40. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4547(19961201)46:5<630::AID-JNR11>3.0.CO;2-0.

Abstract

The POU domain transcription factor Oct-6 (SCIP/Tst-1) is likely to control important stages of Schwann cell development, including the initiation of myelination around birth. Here, we use immunocytochemical and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction techniques to examine Oct-6 earlier in nerve development, to test the idea that Oct-6 has an additional role in Schwann cell precursors or early embryonic Schwann cells, a possibility raised by previous studies on transgenic mice. Consistent with this, we find low but unambiguous levels of Oct-6 mRNA and protein in Schwann cell precursors of mouse and rat (nerves from 12- and 14-day-old embryos, respectively), with expression levels gradually increasing during early Schwann cell development and towards birth. Unexpectedly, Oct-6 immunoreactivity is clearly present in nuclei of most myelinating cells at least as late as postnatal day 12. Furthermore, many nonmyelinating Schwann cells express Oct-6 in adult life. A comparison of Oct-6 mRNA with other Schwann cell transcription factors-namely, Oct-1, Krox-20, and Pax-3-reveals that each factor exhibits strong developmental regulation and a unique expression pattern in embryonic nerves. Therefore, they are likely to play distinct regulatory roles in early development of the Schwann cell lineage.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Lineage
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2
  • Fetal Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Fetal Proteins / genetics
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Gestational Age
  • Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Host Cell Factor C1
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mice
  • Myelin Sheath / physiology*
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-1
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-6
  • PAX3 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Peripheral Nerves / embryology
  • Peripheral Nerves / growth & development
  • Peripheral Nerves / metabolism*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Schwann Cells / metabolism*
  • Sciatic Nerve / embryology
  • Sciatic Nerve / growth & development
  • Sciatic Nerve / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / embryology
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / growth & development
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2
  • Egr2 protein, mouse
  • Egr2 protein, rat
  • Fetal Proteins
  • Hcfc1 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Host Cell Factor C1
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-1
  • PAX3 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Pou2f1 protein, mouse
  • Pou2f1 protein, rat
  • Pou3f1 protein, mouse
  • Pou3f1 protein, rat
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-6
  • Pax3 protein, mouse