# Transduction of Mechanical stimuli in myelination and peripheral nerve repair

> **NIH NIH R01** · ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE · 2022 · $386,731

## Abstract

Mechanobiology is an emerging field which studies how physical forces and changes can contribute to cell
differentiation, tissue formation and diseases. These forces are applied on cells through the local variations
between neighbouring cells and the extracellular matrix. Notably, cell—cell and cell-extracellular matrix
mechanical stimuli can stimulate electrochemical responses, the rearrangement of cytoskeletal structures and
the regulation of gene expression.
 Schwann cells, the myelinating cells of the peripheral nervous system, are required for the function and
health of the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cells also have a critical role in the regenerative
potential of the peripheral nervous system, but very little is known about how Schwann cells sense axonal injury.
 We demonstrated that Schwann cells are exquisitely sensitive to alterations in the elasticity of the
extracellular matrix; and that Schwann cell differentiation and myelination during the peripheral nervous system
development depend on the transduction of mechanical stimuli by YAP and TAZ. Yet, it is unknown what are
the signalling upstream and downstream YAP and TAZ in Schwann cells and if YAP and TAZ are also required
for Schwann cell differentiation and remyelination after peripheral nerve injury.
 Here we will investigate if the transduction of mechanical stimuli in Schwann cells is critical to stimulate
myelination and improve peripheral nerve regeneration. Our objectives are to determine if it is possible to
manipulate Schwann cells mechanically to improve myelination, with therapeutic implications (Aim 3) and to
discover new components of the mechanotransduction pathways upstream (Aim1) and downstream (Aim 2) of
YAP and TAZ. Studying myelination through the mechanotransducers YAP and TAZ has potential to advance the field by identifying the therapeutic importance of Schwann cell and cellular mechanobiology and may reveal novel
targets or mechanisms for myelin formation and peripheral nerve regeneration in neuropathies molecular.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10318596
- **Project number:** 5R01NS110627-03
- **Recipient organization:** ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Yannick Poitelon
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $386,731
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-15 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10318596

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10318596, Transduction of Mechanical stimuli in myelination and peripheral nerve repair (5R01NS110627-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10318596. Licensed CC0.

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