Methods of inducing and preventing neurofibromatosis in Schwann cells

摘要

The invention provides a method of inducing neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) in Schwann cells. The method comprises contacting the cells with laminin-1 so as to bind α6β1 integrin sufficiently to activate endogenous kinase Cdc42-Pak; and phosphorylating Schwannomin-S518 in the cells by the activated kinase, effectively inactivating Schwannomin's tumor suppressor activity and allowing proliferation of subconfluent Schwann cells, thereby modeling NF2. The invention also includes a method of preventing a Schwann cell from forming a tumor by contacting the cell with an amount of tyrphostin AG825 sufficient to inhibit a receptor selected from ErB2, ErB3, β1 integrins and combinations thereof, so as to prevent phosphorylation of Schwannomin-S815 by one or more endogenous kinases.