Oligodendrocytes in Development, Myelin Generation and Beyond

Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that are generated from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC). OPC are distributed throughout the CNS and represent a pool of migratory and proliferative adult progenitor cells that can differentiate into oligodendrocyte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2019-11, Vol.8 (11), p.1424
Main Authors: Kuhn, Sarah, Gritti, Laura, Crooks, Daniel, Dombrowski, Yvonne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alzheimer's disease
Axons
Cell differentiation
Central nervous system
Cytotoxicity
DNA methylation
Embryos
Excitotoxicity
Glial stem cells
Glycoproteins
Homeostasis
Immunomodulation
Mental disorders
Multiple sclerosis
Myelin
Myelination
Neurodegeneration
Neurodegenerative diseases
Oligodendrocytes
Population studies
Progenitor cells
Proteins
Recovery of function
Review
Schizophrenia
Spinal cord
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Summary:Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that are generated from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC). OPC are distributed throughout the CNS and represent a pool of migratory and proliferative adult progenitor cells that can differentiate into oligodendrocytes. The central function of oligodendrocytes is to generate myelin, which is an extended membrane from the cell that wraps tightly around axons. Due to this energy consuming process and the associated high metabolic turnover oligodendrocytes are vulnerable to cytotoxic and excitotoxic factors. Oligodendrocyte pathology is therefore evident in a range of disorders including multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Deceased oligodendrocytes can be replenished from the adult OPC pool and lost myelin can be regenerated during remyelination, which can prevent axonal degeneration and can restore function. Cell population studies have recently identified novel immunomodulatory functions of oligodendrocytes, the implications of which, e.g., for diseases with primary oligodendrocyte pathology, are not yet clear. Here, we review the journey of oligodendrocytes from the embryonic stage to their role in homeostasis and their fate in disease. We will also discuss the most common models used to study oligodendrocytes and describe newly discovered functions of oligodendrocytes.
ISSN:2073-4409
2073-4409
DOI:10.3390/cells8111424