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Myelinating Cells in the Central Nervous System—Development, Aging, and Disease

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Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology

Abstract:

Many neurological diseases are caused by myelin deficiencies, which can be the result of both genetic and environmental factors. The myelin forming cell, oligodendrocyte (OL), is a major target for the known causes of white matter diseases. During development, oligodendrocytes pass through a series of cell phenotypes from undifferentiated stem cells to mature myelin-forming cells. The general idea that there might be different subclasses of oligodendrocyte derived from different precursor subtypes is an area of active debate. Can cells that are born of progenitors in the different parts of the embryo, under the influence of different positional signals and expressing different sets of patterning genes, ever converge on precisely the same phenotypic endpoint? The following sections will review literature about controversy over oligodendrocyte origins and degenerative process resulting in demyelination in the postnatal aging brain and Alzheimer's disease.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer’s Disease

AEP:

anterior entopeduncular

APP:

amyloid precursor protein

bFGF:

basic fibroblast growth factor

CGE:

caudal ganglionic eminence

CNS:

central nervous system

Gsh2:

genomic screened homeobox 2

LGE:

lateral ganglionic eminence

MBP:

myelin basic protein

MGE:

medial ganglionic eminence

MNOP:

motor neuron–oligodendrocyte precursor

NEP:

neuroepithelial cells

NFT:

neurofibrillary tangles

Nrcam:

neuronal-adhesion molecules

NRG:

neuregulin

NRP:

neuron-restricted precursor

OL:

oligodendrocyte

OLP:

oligodendrocyte progenitor

PDGF:

platelet-derived growth factor

PDGFR∝:

platelet-derived growth factor receptor-∝

PLP:

proteolipid protein

PSA-NCAM:

polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule

SHH:

sonic hedgehog

SVZ:

subventricular zone

VZ:

ventricular zone

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Authors
  1. J. Neman
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  2. J. de Vellis
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurochemistry, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 10962, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, New York, USA

    Abel Lajtha (Director) (Director)

  2. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., TX, 77555, Galveston, USA

    J. Regino Perez-Polo (I. H. Kempner Professor and Chair Dept. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Senior Scientist Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine Staff Scientist Shriner's Hospital for Children) (I. H. Kempner Professor and Chair Dept. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Senior Scientist Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine Staff Scientist Shriner's Hospital for Children)

  3. Universität Leipzig Medizinische Fakultät, Paul-Flechsig-Institut für Hirnforschung, Jahnallee 59, 04109, Leipzig, Germany

    Steffen Rossner

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Neman, J., de Vellis, J. (2008). Myelinating Cells in the Central Nervous System—Development, Aging, and Disease. In: Lajtha, A., Perez-Polo, J.R., Rossner, S. (eds) Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-32671-9_3

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