Oligodendrocyte Pathophysiology and Treatment Strategies in Cerebral Ischemia.

Oligodendrocyte Pathophysiology and Treatment Strategies in Cerebral Ischemia.
CNS Neurosci Ther. 2014 Apr 7;
Authors: Mifsud G, Zammit C, Muscat R, Di Giovanni G, Valentino M
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes (OLs), the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system, form a functional unit with axons and play a crucial role in axonal integrity. An episode of hypoxia-ischemia causes rapid and severe damage to these particularly vulnerable cells via multiple pathways such as overactivation of glutamate and ATP receptors, oxidative stress, and disruption of mitochondrial function. The cardinal effect of OL pathology is demyelination and dysmyelination, and this has profound effects on axonal function, transport, structure, metabolism, and survival. The OL is a primary target of ischemia in adult-onset stroke and especially in periventricular leukomalacia and should be considered as a primary therapeutic target in these conditions. More emphasis is needed on therapeutic strategies that target OLs, myelin, and their receptors, as these have the potential to significantly attenuate white matter injury and to establish functional recovery of white matter after stroke. In this review, we will summarize recent progress on the role of OLs in white matter ischemic injury and the current and emerging principles that form the basis for protective strategies against OL death.
PMID: 24703424 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics - April 7, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Mifsud G, Zammit C, Muscat R, Di Giovanni G, Valentino M Tags: CNS Neurosci Ther Source Type: research