Fig. 3: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) pathogenic mechanisms.
From: Hearing loss and vestibular schwannoma: new insights into Schwann cells implication
Genetic mutations in the neurofibromin 2 gene (coding for the protein merlin), but also in other genes (e.g., LZTR1, SMARCB1, or COQ6, RAD54B) cause VS. Also the exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) and macrophages activation, potentially, might be cause of VS. From a biomolecular point of view, these triggers induce upregulation and activation of some signaling pathways in Schwann cells (SCs), such as Rac1, PAK1, EGFR-Ras-ERK, PI3K-Akt, mTORC1, and Wnt, concomitant with a de-regulation of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling. As a result, SCs growth and migrate, giving the oncotransformation into VS.
