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White matter astrocytes in health and disease

Lundgaard, I. LU ; Osório, M. J. ; Kress, B. T. ; Sanggaard, S. and Nedergaard, M. (2014) In Neuroscience 276. p.161-173
Abstract

Myelination by oligodendrocytes is a highly specialized process that relies on intimate interactions between the axon and the oligodendrocytes. Astrocytes have an important part in facilitating myelination in the CNS, however, comparatively less is known about how they affect myelination. This review therefore summarizes the literature and explores lingering questions surrounding differences between white matter and gray matter astrocytes, how astrocytes support myelination, how their dysfunction in pathological states contributes to myelin pathologies and how astrocytes may facilitate remyelination. We discuss how astrocytes in the white matter are specialized to promote myelination and myelin maintenance by clearance of extracellular... (More)

Myelination by oligodendrocytes is a highly specialized process that relies on intimate interactions between the axon and the oligodendrocytes. Astrocytes have an important part in facilitating myelination in the CNS, however, comparatively less is known about how they affect myelination. This review therefore summarizes the literature and explores lingering questions surrounding differences between white matter and gray matter astrocytes, how astrocytes support myelination, how their dysfunction in pathological states contributes to myelin pathologies and how astrocytes may facilitate remyelination. We discuss how astrocytes in the white matter are specialized to promote myelination and myelin maintenance by clearance of extracellular ions and neurotransmitters and by secretion of pro-myelinating factors. Additionally, astrocyte-oligodendrocyte coupling via gap junctions is crucial for both myelin formation and maintenance, due to K+ buffering and possibly metabolic support for oligodendrocytes via the panglial syncytium. Dysfunctional astrocytes aberrantly affect oligodendrocytes, as exemplified by a number of leukodystrophies in which astrocytic pathology is known as the direct cause of myelin pathology. Conversely, in primary demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, astrocytes may facilitate remyelination. We suggest that specific manipulation of astrocytes could help prevent myelin pathologies and successfully restore myelin sheaths after demyelination.

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author
; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Astrocyte heterogeneity, Astrocytes, Myelination, Oligodendrocytes, White matter pathology
in
Neuroscience
volume
276
pages
161 - 173
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:84906793842
  • pmid:24231735
ISSN
0306-4522
DOI
10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.050
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
0b725185-955e-4bf5-a641-06bddc0794a7
date added to LUP
2019-05-16 16:48:38
date last changed
2024-06-12 14:37:14
@article{0b725185-955e-4bf5-a641-06bddc0794a7,
  abstract     = {{<p>Myelination by oligodendrocytes is a highly specialized process that relies on intimate interactions between the axon and the oligodendrocytes. Astrocytes have an important part in facilitating myelination in the CNS, however, comparatively less is known about how they affect myelination. This review therefore summarizes the literature and explores lingering questions surrounding differences between white matter and gray matter astrocytes, how astrocytes support myelination, how their dysfunction in pathological states contributes to myelin pathologies and how astrocytes may facilitate remyelination. We discuss how astrocytes in the white matter are specialized to promote myelination and myelin maintenance by clearance of extracellular ions and neurotransmitters and by secretion of pro-myelinating factors. Additionally, astrocyte-oligodendrocyte coupling via gap junctions is crucial for both myelin formation and maintenance, due to K<sup>+</sup> buffering and possibly metabolic support for oligodendrocytes via the panglial syncytium. Dysfunctional astrocytes aberrantly affect oligodendrocytes, as exemplified by a number of leukodystrophies in which astrocytic pathology is known as the direct cause of myelin pathology. Conversely, in primary demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, astrocytes may facilitate remyelination. We suggest that specific manipulation of astrocytes could help prevent myelin pathologies and successfully restore myelin sheaths after demyelination.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lundgaard, I. and Osório, M. J. and Kress, B. T. and Sanggaard, S. and Nedergaard, M.}},
  issn         = {{0306-4522}},
  keywords     = {{Astrocyte heterogeneity; Astrocytes; Myelination; Oligodendrocytes; White matter pathology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  pages        = {{161--173}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Neuroscience}},
  title        = {{White matter astrocytes in health and disease}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.050}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.050}},
  volume       = {{276}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}