AUTHOR=Procacci Patrizia , Ballabio Marinella , Castelnovo Luca F., Mantovani Cristina M., Magnaghi Valerio TITLE=GABA-B receptors in the PNS have a role in Schwann cells differentiation? JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2012 YEAR=2013 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncel.2012.00068 DOI=10.3389/fncel.2012.00068 ISSN=1662-5102 ABSTRACT=

γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA-B) receptor mediates the inhibitory transmission of γ-aminobutyric acid in the mammalian nervous system, being present in neurons and also in glial cells. Recently the presence of GABA-B has been demonstrated in Schwann cells (SC) suggesting its contribution in regulating the cell fate, maturation, and plasticity. Here, we further support the functional presence of GABA-B receptor in SC plasma membrane. By confocal microscopy immunofluorescence we provide evidences that GABA-B localization on the cell elongated processes correlates with the morphological changes occurring in the differentiated SC. In vivo most of the GABA-B receptors seem to be present in non-myelinating SC, which are committed to ensheath the nociceptive fibers. Therefore, we argue that GABA-B receptors do not control exclusively the in vivo differentiation yielding the myelinating SC, but are also fundamental in regulating the SC plasticity versus the non-myelinating state. Data from the literature and our recent findings corroborate the role of the GABAergic system and GABA-B receptors in the peripheral nervous system, opening new perspectives on the mechanisms controlling the differentiation of SC.