Disrupted function of lactate transporter MCT1 , but not MCT4 , in Schwann cells affects the maintenance of motor end‐plate innervation

Filipa Bouçanova , Gill Pollmeier , Katalin Sandor , Carlos Morado Urbina , Jik Nijssen , Jean‐jacques Médard , Luca Bartesaghi , Luc Pellerin (1) , Camilla I Svensson , Eva Hedlund , Roman Chrast

1 CRMSB - Centre de résonance magnétique des systèmes biologiques

Recent studies in neuron-glial metabolic coupling have shown that, in the CNS, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes support neurons with energy-rich lactate/pyruvate via monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). The presence of such transporters in the PNS, in both Schwann cells and neurons, has prompted us to question if a similar interaction may be present. Here we describe the generation and characterization of conditional knockout mouse models where MCT1 or MCT4 is specifically deleted in Schwann cells (named MCT1 and MCT4 cKO). We show that MCT1 cKO and MCT4 cKO mice develop normally and that myelin in the PNS is preserved. However, MCT1 expressed by Schwann cells is necessary for long-term maintenance of motor end-plate integrity as revealed by disrupted neuromuscular innervation in mutant mice, while MCT4 appears largely dispensable for the support of motor neurons.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Filipa Bouçanova, Gill Pollmeier, Katalin Sandor, Carlos Morado Urbina, Jik Nijssen, et al.. Disrupted function of lactate transporter MCT1 , but not MCT4 , in Schwann cells affects the maintenance of motor end‐plate innervation. Glia, 2021, 69 (1), pp.124-136. ⟨10.1002/glia.23889⟩. ⟨hal-03366045⟩