Background: Schwann cells (SCs) express cholinergic receptors, suggesting a role of cholinergic signaling in the control of SC proliferation, differentiation and/or myelination. Our previous studies largely demonstrated that the pharmacological activation of the M2 muscarinic receptor subtype caused an inhibition of cell proliferation and promoted the expression of pro-myelinating differentiation genes. In order to elucidate the molecular signaling activated downstream the M2 receptor activation, in the present study we investigated the signal transduction pathways activated by the M2 orthosteric agonist arecaidine propargyl ester (APE) in SCs. Methods: Using Western blot we analyzed some components of the noncanonical pathways involving β1-arrestin and PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signaling. A wound healing assay was used to evaluate SC migration. Results: Our results demonstrated that M2 receptor activation negatively modulated the PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 axis, possibly through β1-arrestin downregulation. The involvement of the mTORC1 complex was also supported by the decreased expression of its specific target p-p70 S6KThr389. Then, we also analyzed the expression of p-AMPKαthr172, a negative regulator of myelination that resulted in reduced levels after M2 agonist treatment. The analysis of cell migration and morphology allowed us to demonstrate that M2 receptor activation caused an arrest of SC migration and modified cell morphology probably by the modulation of β1-arrestin/cofilin-1 and PKCα expression, respectively. Conclusions: The data obtained demonstrated that M2 receptor activation in addition to the canonical Gi protein-coupled pathway modulates noncanonical pathways involving the mTORC1 complex and other kinases whose activation may contribute to the inhibition of SC proliferation and migration and address SC differentiation.

Analysis of Signal Transduction Pathways Downstream M2 Receptor Activation: Effects on Schwann Cell Migration and Morphology / Botticelli, Elisabetta; Salazar Intriago, Michael Sebastian; Piovesana, Roberta; Tata, Ada Maria. - In: LIFE. - ISSN 2075-1729. - 12:2(2022). [10.3390/life12020211]

Analysis of Signal Transduction Pathways Downstream M2 Receptor Activation: Effects on Schwann Cell Migration and Morphology

Botticelli, Elisabetta
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Salazar Intriago, Michael Sebastian
Investigation
;
Piovesana, Roberta
Methodology
;
Tata, Ada Maria
Writing – Review & Editing
2022

Abstract

Background: Schwann cells (SCs) express cholinergic receptors, suggesting a role of cholinergic signaling in the control of SC proliferation, differentiation and/or myelination. Our previous studies largely demonstrated that the pharmacological activation of the M2 muscarinic receptor subtype caused an inhibition of cell proliferation and promoted the expression of pro-myelinating differentiation genes. In order to elucidate the molecular signaling activated downstream the M2 receptor activation, in the present study we investigated the signal transduction pathways activated by the M2 orthosteric agonist arecaidine propargyl ester (APE) in SCs. Methods: Using Western blot we analyzed some components of the noncanonical pathways involving β1-arrestin and PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signaling. A wound healing assay was used to evaluate SC migration. Results: Our results demonstrated that M2 receptor activation negatively modulated the PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 axis, possibly through β1-arrestin downregulation. The involvement of the mTORC1 complex was also supported by the decreased expression of its specific target p-p70 S6KThr389. Then, we also analyzed the expression of p-AMPKαthr172, a negative regulator of myelination that resulted in reduced levels after M2 agonist treatment. The analysis of cell migration and morphology allowed us to demonstrate that M2 receptor activation caused an arrest of SC migration and modified cell morphology probably by the modulation of β1-arrestin/cofilin-1 and PKCα expression, respectively. Conclusions: The data obtained demonstrated that M2 receptor activation in addition to the canonical Gi protein-coupled pathway modulates noncanonical pathways involving the mTORC1 complex and other kinases whose activation may contribute to the inhibition of SC proliferation and migration and address SC differentiation.
2022
AMPK; M2 muscarinic receptor; Schwann cells; cell migration; mTOR pathway; β1-arrestin
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Analysis of Signal Transduction Pathways Downstream M2 Receptor Activation: Effects on Schwann Cell Migration and Morphology / Botticelli, Elisabetta; Salazar Intriago, Michael Sebastian; Piovesana, Roberta; Tata, Ada Maria. - In: LIFE. - ISSN 2075-1729. - 12:2(2022). [10.3390/life12020211]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Botticelli_Analysis_2022.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.89 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.89 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1615240
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus 4
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 4
social impact