Missing in Action: Dysfunctional RNA Metabolism in Oligodendroglial Cells as a Contributor to Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Missing in Action: Dysfunctional RNA Metabolism in Oligodendroglial Cells as a Contributor to Neurodegenerative Diseases? Neurochem Res. 2019 Mar 06;: Authors: Hoch-Kraft P, Trotter J, Gonsior C Abstract The formation of myelin around axons by oligodendrocytes (OL) poses an enormous synthetic and energy challenge for the glial cell. Local translation of transcripts, including the mRNA for the essential myelin protein Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) at the site of myelin deposition has been recognised as an efficient mechanism to assure proper myelin sheath assembly. Oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs) form synapses with neurons and may localise many additional mRNAs in a similar fashion to synapses between neurons. In some diseases in which demyelination occurs, an abundance of OPCs is present but there is a failure to efficiently remyelinate and to synthesise MBP. This compromises axonal survival and function. OPCs are especially sensitive to cellular stress as occurring in neurodegenerative diseases, which can impinge on their ability to translate mRNAs into protein. Stress causes the build up of cytoplasmic stress granules (SG) in which many RNAs are sequestered and translationally stalled until the stress ceases. Chronic stress in particular could convert this initially protective reaction of the cell into damage, as persistence of SG may lead to pathological aggregate formation or long-term translation block of SG-associated RNAs...
Source: Neurochemical Research - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Neurochem Res Source Type: research