@article{3117,
  keywords = {Animals, Cell Communication, Cells, Cultured, Humans, leprosy, Mice, Mice, Nude, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Models, Neurological, Mycobacterium leprae, Neurons, Rats, Schwann Cells},
  author = {Hagge D and Oby Robinson S and Scollard D and McCormick G and Williams DL},
  title = {A new model for studying the effects of Mycobacterium leprae on Schwann cell and neuron interactions.},
  abstract = {<p>Millions of patients with leprosy suffer from nerve damage resulting in disabilities as a consequence of Mycobacterium leprae infection. However, mechanisms of nerve damage have not been elucidated because of the lack of a model that maintains M. leprae viability and mimics disease conditions. A model was developed using viable M. leprae, rat Schwann cells, and Schwann cell-neuron cocultures incubated at 33 degrees C. M. leprae retained 56% viability in Schwann cells for 3 weeks after infection at 33 degrees C, compared with 3.6% viability at 37 degrees C. Infected Schwann cells had altered morphology and expression of genes encoding cellular adhesion molecules at 33 degrees C but were capable of interacting with and myelinating neurons. Cocultures, infected after myelination occurred, showed no morphological changes in myelin architecture after 1 month of incubation at 33 degrees C, and M. leprae retained 53% viability. This article describes a new model for studying the effects of M. leprae on Schwann cells.</p>},
  year = {2002},
  journal = {The Journal of infectious diseases},
  volume = {186},
  pages = {1283-96},
  month = {2002 Nov 01},
  issn = {0022-1899},
  url = {https://academic.oup.com/jid/article-lookup/doi/10.1086/344313},
  doi = {10.1086/344313},
  language = {eng},
}