NTRK1/TrkA expression is a potential regulator of neuroblastoma cross-talk with the schwannian stroma

Schwann cells (SC) are the predominant morphological feature of neuroblastomas (NB) with good prognosis. High-level NTRK1/TrkA expression, which is known to mediate tumor cell differentiation, is characteristic of this NB subgroup. We hypothesized that Schwannian stromal development and neuroblastic differentiation is based on bidirectional interaction of NB and SC. Reanalysis of microarray data from SY5Y NB cells stably transfected with NTRK1, NTRK2 or the empty vector revealed that upregulation of genes influencing motility and growth of SC is restricted to NTRK1-positive cells. Incubation of primary SC with s…