In vivo introduction of transgenes into mouse sciatic nerve cells in situ using viral vectors

Sergio Gonzalez, Ruani Fernando, Claire Perrin-Tricaud, Nicolas Tricaud

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The myelin sheath is essential for the rapid and efficient propagation of action potentials. However, our understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms that regulate myelination, demyelination and remyelination is limited. Schwann cells produce myelin in the peripheral nervous system and remain associated with the axons of peripheral neurons throughout axonal migration to the target. Owing to the intimate relationship between these cell types it is difficult to fully reproduce their function in vitro. For this reason, we developed an approach based on the injection of an engineered virus into the sciatic nerve of mice to locally transduce peripheral nerve cells. This approach can be used as an alternative to germline transgenesis to facilitate the investigation of peripheral nerve biology in vivo. The detailed protocol, described here, requires 3 weeks to complete. In comparison with genetic modification strategies, this protocol is a fast, reproducible and straightforward method for introducing exogenous factors into myelinating Schwann cells and myelinated axons in vivo to investigate specific molecular mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1160-1169
Number of pages10
JournalNature Protocols
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Adenoviridae
  • Animals
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Lentivirus
  • Mice
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Schwann Cells
  • Sciatic Nerve
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Transgenes

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