Essential role of SRC suppressed C kinase substrates in Schwann cells adhesion, spreading and migration

Integrin-mediated substrate adhesion of endothelial cells leads to dynamic rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. Protein kinase C (PKC) stimulates reorganization of microfilaments and adhesion, while the responses of Schwann cells during adhesion and migration are unknown, so we examined the expression changes of SSeCKS and F-actin in Schwann cells after exposure to fibronectin. Src (sarcoma) suppressed C kinase substrate (SSeCKS) is a PKC substrate that may play an important role in regulating actin cytoskeleton. We found that SSeCKS was localized to focal adhesion sites soon after Schwann cells adhesion and that SSeCKS increased during the process of cell spreading. Using small interfering RNAs specific to SSeCKS, we showed that Schwann cells in which SSeCKS expression was inhibited reduced cellular adhesion, spreading and promoted cellular migration on fibronectin through reorganization of actin stress fibers and blocking formation of focal adhesions. These results demonstrated SSeCKS modulate Schwann cells adhesion, spreading and migration by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton.