01334nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001200055653001000067653004300077653001800120653004200138653001100180653001200191653000900203653002500212653001800237653001800255100001700273245008600290300001000376490000700386050002000393520062900413022001401042       2004                            d  c2004 Aug10aAnimals10aAxons10aDemyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS10aDystroglycans10aDystrophin-Associated Protein Complex10aHumans10aleprosy10aMice10aMycobacterium leprae10aMyelin Sheath10aSchwann Cells1 aRambukkana A00aMycobacterium leprae-induced demyelination: a model for early nerve degeneration.  a511-80 v16  aRAMBUKKANA 20043 a<p>The molecular events that occur at the early phase of many demyelinating neurodegenerative diseases are unknown. A recent demonstration of rapid demyelination and axonal injury induced by Mycobacterium leprae provides a model for elucidating the molecular events of early nerve degeneration which might be common to neurodegenerative diseases of both infectious origin and unknown etiology. The identification of the M. leprae-targeted Schwann cell receptor, dystroglycan, and its associated molecules in myelination, demyelination and axonal functions suggests a role for these molecules in early nerve degeneration.</p>  a0952-7915