The Biology of Schwann Cells
Development, Differentiation and Immunomodulation

Schwann cells are a diverse group of cells formed from neural crest cells. They are essential components of the peripheral nerves of both vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. The diversity of Schwann cell subsets and function is seen in those Schwann cells that form myelin - that uniquely specialised part of the plasma membrane that spirals around axonal lengths to myelinate the peripheral nerves. The Biology of Schwann Cells concentrates on the cells of mammals and in particular humans. It covers the distinction between compact and non-compact myelin in depth, along with the perisynaptic cells which form the partnership between nerve terminals and muscle fibre. Developmental aspects are discussed alongside differentiation, and the genetics of the cells in health and disease. With chapters from world-renowned experts, this book is aimed at postgraduates and researchers in neuroscience and neurology and anyone involved in the study of peripheral nerves.

Preface; Dedication; 1. Introduction to the Schwann cell Emily Mathey and Patricia J. Armati; 2. Early events in Schwann cell development Rhona Mirsky and Kristjan R. Jessen; 3. The molecular organization of myelinating Schwann cells Edgardo J. Arroyo and Steven S. Scherer; 4. The role of the extracellular matrix in Schwann cell development and myelination Maria Laura Feltri and Lawrence Wrabetz; 5. The biology of perisynaptic (terminal) Schwann cells Chien-Ping Ko, Yoshie Sugiura and Zhihua Feng; 6. Cytokine and chemokine interactions with Schwann cells: the neuroimmunology of Schwann cells Robert P. Lisak and Joyce A. Benjamins; 7. Schwann cells as immunomodulatory cells Bernd C. Kieseier, Wei Hu, and Hans-Peter Hartung; 8. Mutations in Schwann cell genes causing inherited neuropathies Michael E. Shy, John Kamholz and Jun Li; 9. Guillain-Barré Syndrome and the Schwann cell Richard A. C. Hughes; 10. Chronic idiopathic demyelinating polyneuropathy and Schwann cells John D. Pollard.

PATRICIA J. ARMATI is an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Nerve Research Foundation, Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney, Australia with a long-standing research interest in the biology of Schwann cells