Thrombin and protein C pathway in peripheral nerve Schwann cells

Thrombin and activated protein C (aPC) bound to the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) both activate protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) generating either harmful or protective signaling respectively. In the present study we examined the localization of PAR-1 and EPCR and thrombin activity in Schwann glial cells of normal and crushed peripheral nerve and in Schwannoma cell lines. In the sciatic crush model nerves were excised 1 h, 1, 4, and 7 days after the injury. Schwannoma cell lines produced high levels of prothrombin which is converted to active thrombin and expressed both EPCR and PAR-1 which co-localized. In the injured sciatic nerve thrombin levels were elevated as early as 1 h after injury, reached their peak 1 day after injury which was significantly higher (24.4 ± 4.1 mU/ml) compared to contralateral uninjured nerves (2.6 ± 7 mU/ml, t-test p < 0.001) and declined linearly reaching baseline levels by day 7. EPCR was found to be located at the microvilli of Schwann cells at the node of Ranvier and in cytoplasm surrounding the nucleus. Four days after sciatic injury, EPCR levels increased significantly (57,785 ± 16602AU versus 4790 ± 1294AU in the contralateral uninjured nerves, p < 0.001 by t-test) mainly distal to the site of injury, where axon degeneration is followed by proliferation of Schwann cells which are diffusely stained for EPCR. EPCR seems to be located to cytoplasmic component of Schwann cells and not to compact myelin component, and is highly increased following injury.