Transcription initiation factor IIB involves in Schwann cell differentiation after rat sciatic nerve crush.

Transcription Initiation Factor IIB (TFIIB), as a general transcription factor, plays an essential role in preinitiation complex assembly and transcription initiation by recruiting RNA polymerase II to the promoter. However, its distribution and function in peripheral system lesion and repair were still unknown. Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal expression of TFIIB in an acute sciatic nerve crush model in adult rats. Western blot analysis revealed that TFIIB was expressed in normal sciatic nerve. It gradually increased, reached a peak at the seventh day after crush, and then returned to the normal level at 4 weeks. We observed that TFIIB expressed mainly increased in Schwann cells and co-localized with Oct-6. In vitro, we induced Schwann cell differentiation with cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and found that TFIIB expression was increased in the differentiated process. TFIIB-specific siRNA inhibited cAMP-induced Schwann cell morphological change and the expression of P0. Collectively, we hypothesized peripheral nerve crush-induced upregulation of TFIIB in the sciatic nerve was associated with Schwann cell differentiation.