Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41708964›Full record

ArticleMolecular neurobiology2026

Macrophage-Derived Amphiregulin Enhances Schwann Cell Phagocytosis Through the EGFR/CTSS Signaling Pathway.

Shuyi Xu, Jie Liang, Jiaqi Wang, Jiayi Li, Shicheng Wang, Xianghai Wang, Gang Deng, Lixin Zhu, Jiasong Guo, Yizhou Xu

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular neurobiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shuyi Xu *Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Jie Liang *Department of Spinal Surgery, Orthopedic Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
Jiaqi Wang *Department of Spinal Surgery, Orthopedic Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
Jiayi Li *Department of Spinal Surgery, Orthopedic Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
Shicheng WangDepartment of Spinal Surgery, Orthopedic Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
Xianghai WangDepartment of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Gang DengDepartment of Sport Medicine, Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China. 461681542@qq.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-9347-0310
Lixin ZhuDepartment of Spinal Surgery, Orthopedic Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China. zhulixin1966@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3055-3063
Jiasong GuoDepartment of Spinal Surgery, Orthopedic Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China. jiasongguo@smu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7885-2903
Yizhou XuDepartment of Spinal Surgery, Orthopedic Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China. xuyizhou1995@i.smu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-0230-9090

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Although Schwann cells are non-professional phagocytes, their phagocytic function significantly contributes to myelin debris clearance, a critical process for Wallerian degeneration. However, whether their phagocytic capacity is modulated by professional phagocytes like macrophages remains unknown. This study demonstrates that following nerve injury, macrophages can secrete amphiregulin (AREG) to enhance the phagocytic capability of Schwann cells. Using an Areg conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model, we identified that macrophage-derived AREG activates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on Schwann cells and upregulates Cathepsin S (CTSS) expression. CTSS restoration rescued the phagocytic defect in Schwann cells treated with conditioned medium from cKO. These findings reveal a novel paracrine mechanism wherein macrophages regulate Schwann cell phagocytosis via the AREG-EGFR-CTSS axis, highlighting a potential target for promoting myelin debris clearance and accelerating Wallerian degeneration after nerve injury.

Indexed as

AmphiregulinErbB ReceptorsMacrophagesPhagocytosisSchwann CellsSignal TransductionAnimalsMice, KnockoutWallerian DegenerationAmphiregulinEGFR protein, mouseErbB ReceptorsAmphiregulinEGFR/CTSS pathwayMacrophageSchwann cellWallerian degeneration

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.