1. Figure 5 Interactions between neurons, glial cells and cancer cells
Figure 5 | Interactions between neurons, glial cells and cancer cells. New studies have uncovered several potentially important roles of peripheral glial cells (Schwann cells) in the pathogenesis of neural plasticity and neuropathy in pancreatic cancer.43,51,70 Schwann cells can be readily identified by a combination of glial markers (SOX10, ALDH1L1, GFAP, S100, p75NTR) that can be used to differentiate them from other stromal cells (e.g. stellate cells).49,70 Schwann cell activity seems to be modulated by the amount of the axon guidance molecule SLIT2 that can be secreted from either cancer cells or stromal fibroblasts.43,51 The most intriguing role that was put forward for Schwann cells is 'carcinotropism', a specific and strong affinity of Schwann cells toward cancer cells or their precursors.70 By the accumulation of Schwann cells around precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer (PanIN lesions) or colon cancer (adenoma cells), they are assumed to initiate neural invasion.70 The image depicts human intrapancreatic nerve double-immunostained with the glial markers GFAP (green) and S100 (red). Nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Abbreviations: ALDH1L1, cytosolic 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase; DAPI, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein; PanIN, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia; p75NTR, p75 neurotrophin receptor; SOX10, transcription factor SOX-10; S100, protein S100.
Demir, I. E. et al. (2015) Neural plasticity in pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer
Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. doi: /nrgastro