Transforming growth factor-β1 induces matrix metalloproteinase and cell migration in Schwann cells

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TGF-β1 on RSC96 Schwann cell migration and to study its intracellular transduction pathways. We found that TGF-β1 induced the activation of key signaling molecules involved in non-Smad (Akt and MAPK) and focal adhesion signaling pathways (FAK and Src) that cooperatively regulated the process of RSC96 cells migration together with MMP-2 and MMP-9 upregulation. These findings indicate a regulatory pathway of TGF-β1 in MMP-9/-2 expression which may be significant in regulating Schwann cell migration and physiology in peripheral nervous sytem injury.