White matter astrocytes in health and disease #MMPMID24231735
Lundgaard I; Osório MJ; Kress B; Sanggaard S; Nedergaard M
Neuroscience 2014[Sep]; ä (ä): 161-73 PMID24231735show ga
Myelination by oligodendrocytes is a highly specialized process that relies on intimate interactions between the axon and oligodendrocyte. Astrocytes also 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 grey matter astrocytes, how astrocytes support myelination, how their dysfunction in pathological states contributes to myelin pathologies and how astrocytes may facilitate remyelination. We propose that astrocytes in the white matter are specialized to facilitate myelination and myelin maintenance by clearance of extracellular ions and neurotransmitters and by secretion of pro-myelinating factors. Aditionally, astrocytes-oligodendrocyte coupling via gapjunctions is crucial for both myelin formation and maintenance, due to K+ buffering and possibly metabolic support for oligodendrocytes via the panglia syncytium. Dysfunctional astrocytes aberrantly affect oligodendrocytes, 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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Neuroscience 2014 ; ä (ä): 161-73
