Ras signalling is important in the development of Schwann-cell-derived tumors in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) patients. Schwann cells are a regenerative cell type, with no known stem-cell population. To produce new cells in the adult, for example following nerve damage, myelinating Schwann cells de-differentiate, proliferate and then re-differentiate during the repair process. We have found that Ras/Raf/ERK signalling can drive the de-differentiation of myelinated Schwann cells. In this review, we discuss how our results may contribute to the understanding of tumor formation in NF1 patients.
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Harrisingh et al. (2004) studied this question.