Interactions between oligodendrocyte precursors control the onset of CNS myelination

The formation of CNS myelin is dependent on the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocyte maturation. How the initiation of myelination is regulated is unclear, but it is likely to depend on the development of competence by oligodendrocytes and receptivity by target axons. Here we identify an additional level of control of oligodendrocyte maturation mediated by interactions between the different cellular components of the oligodendrocyte lineage. During development oligodendrocyte precursors mature through a series of stages defined by labeling with monoclonal antibodies A2B5 and O4. Newly differentiated oligodendrocytes begin to express galactocerebroside recognized by O1 antibodies and subsequently mature to myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive cells prior to formation of compact myelin. Using an in vitro brain slice culture system that supports robust myelination, the consequences of ablating cells at different stages of the oligodendrocyte lineage on myelination have been assayed. Elimination of all OPC lineage cells through A2B5+, O4+, and O1+ complement-mediated cell lysis resulted in a delay in development of MBP cells and myelination. Selective elimination of early OPCs (A2B5+) also unexpectedly resulted in delayed MBP expression compared to controls suggesting that early OPCs contribute to the timing of myelination onset. By contrast, elimination of differentiated (O1+) immature oligodendrocytes permanently inhibited the appearance of MBP+ cells suggesting that oligodendrocytes are critical to facilitate the maturation of OPCs. These data illuminate that the presence of intra-lineage feed-forward and feedback cues are important for timely myelination by oligodendrocytes.     

Down-regulation of polysialic acid is required for efficient myelin formation

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells modify the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) by the attachment of polysialic acid (PSA). Upon further differentiation into mature myelinating oligodendrocytes, however, oligodendrocyte precursor cells down-regulate PSA synthesis. In order to address the question of whether this down-regulation is a necessary prerequisite for the myelination process, transgenic mice expressing the polysialyltransferase ST8SiaIV under the control of the proteolipid protein promoter were generated. In these mice, postnatal down-regulation of PSA in oligodendrocytes was abolished. Most NCAM-120, the characteristic NCAM isoform in oligodendrocytes, carried PSA in the transgenic mice at all stages of postnatal development. Polysialylated NCAM-120 partially co-localized with myelin basic protein and was present in purified myelin. The permanent expression of PSA-NCAM in oligodendrocytes led to a reduced myelin content in the forebrains of transgenic mice during the period of active myelination and in the adult animal. In situ hybridizations indicated a significant decrease in the number of mature oligodendrocytes in the forebrain. Thus, down-regulation of PSA during oligodendrocyte differentiation is a prerequisite for efficient myelination by mature oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, myelin of transgenic mice exhibited structural abnormalities like redundant myelin and axonal degeneration, indicating that the down-regulation of PSA is also necessary for myelin maintenance.     

Oligodendrocyte precursor cell transplantation into organotypic cerebellar shiverer slices: a model to study myelination and myelin maintenance

Current in vitro models to investigate the consequence of oligodendrocyte-specific loss-of-function mutations on myelination are primarily limited to co-culture experiments, which do not accurately recapitulate the complex in vivo environment. Here, we describe the development of an in vitro model of myelination and myelin maintenance in which oligodendrocyte precursor cells are transplanted into organotypic cerebellar slice cultures derived from dysmyelinated shiverer mice. Compared to neuron-oligodendrocyte co-cultures, organotypic slices more closely mimic the environment in vivo, while utilizing a genetic background that allows for straight-forward identification of myelin generated by transplanted cells. We show at the ultrastructural level that the myelin generated by wild-type transplanted oligodendrocytes is compact and terminates in cytoplasmic loops that form paranodal junctions with the axon. This myelination results in the appropriate sequestering of axonal proteins into specialized domains surrounding the nodes of Ranvier. We also demonstrate the applicability of this approach for xenograft transplantation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells derived from rat or human sources. This method provides a time-efficient and cost-effective adjunct to conditional knockout mouse lines or in vivo transplantation models to study oligodendrocyte-specific loss-of-function mutations. Furthermore, the approach can be readily used to assess the effect of pharmacological manipulations on myelin, providing a tool to better understand myelination and develop effective therapeutic strategies to treat myelin-related diseases.     

Hypomyelination Phenotype Caused by Impaired Differentiation of Oligodendrocytes in Emx1-cre Mediated Cdk5 Conditional Knockout Mice

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) plays a pivotal role in neuronal migration and differentiation, and in axonal elongation. Although many studies have been conducted to analyze neuronal functions of Cdk5, its kinase activity has also been reported during oligodendrocyte differentiation, which suggests Cdk5 may play an important role in oligodendrocytes. Here, we describe a hypomyelination phenotype observed in Emx1-cre mediated Cdk5 conditional knockout (cKO) mice (Emx1-cKO), in which the Cdk5 gene was deleted in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocyte -lineage cells. In contrast, the Cdk5 gene in CaMKII cKO mice was deleted only in neurons. Because the development of mature oligodendrocytes from oligodendrocyte precursor cells is a complex process, we performed in situ hybridization using markers for the oligodendrocyte precursor cell and for the differentiated oligodendrocyte. Our results indicate that hypomyelination in Emx1-cKO is due to the impaired differentiation of oligodendrocytes, rather than to the proliferation or migration of their precursors. The present study confirmed the in vivo role of Cdk5 in oligodendrocyte differentiation.     

Rnd2 differentially regulates oligodendrocyte myelination at different developmental periods

In the CNS, oligodendrocyte precursor cells differentiate into oligodendrocytes to wrap their plasma membranes around neuronal axons, generating mature neural networks with myelin sheaths according to spatial and temporal patterns. While myelination is known to be one of the most dynamic cell morphological changes, the overall intrinsic and extrinsic molecular cues controlling myelination remain to be fully clarified. Here, we describe the biphasic roles of Rnd2, an atypical branch of the Rho family GTPase, in oligodendrocyte myelination during development and after maturation in mice. Compared with littermate controls, oligodendrocyte-specific Rnd2 knockout mice exhibit decreased myelin thickness at the onset of myelination but increased myelin thickness in the later period. Larger proportions of Rho kinase and its substrate Mbs, the signaling unit that negatively regulates oligodendrocyte myelination, are phosphorylated at the onset of myelination, while their smaller proportions are phosphorylated in the later period. In addition, we confirm the biphasic role of Rnd2 through experiments with oligodendrocyte-specific Rnd2 transgenic mice. We conclude that Rnd2 positively regulates myelination in the early myelinating period and negatively regulates myelination in the later period. This unique modulator thus plays different roles depending on the myelination period.     

Death receptor 6 negatively regulates oligodendrocyte survival, maturation and myelination

Survival and differentiation of oligodendrocytes are important for the myelination of central nervous system (CNS) axons during development and crucial for myelin repair in CNS demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Here we show that death receptor 6 (DR6) is a negative regulator of oligodendrocyte maturation. DR6 is expressed strongly in immature oligodendrocytes and weakly in mature myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive oligodendrocytes. Overexpression of DR6 in oligodendrocytes leads to caspase 3 (casp3) activation and cell death. Attenuation of DR6 function leads to enhanced oligodendrocyte maturation, myelination and downregulation of casp3. Treatment with a DR6 antagonist antibody promotes remyelination in both lysolecithin-induced demyelination and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models. Consistent with the DR6 antagoinst antibody studies, DR6-null mice show enhanced remyelination in both demyelination models. These studies reveal a pivotal role for DR6 signaling in immature oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination that may provide new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of demyelination disorders such as multiple sclerosis.     

Iron modulates the differentiation of a distinct population of glial precursor cells into oligodendrocytes

Iron deficiency in children is associated with a number of neural defects including hypomyelination. It has been hypothesized by others that this hypomyelination is due to a failure in myelin production. Other possibilities include failure in the generation of oligodendrocytes from their precursor cells or an interruption in oligodendrocyte maturation. These hypotheses are based on the observations that there is a peak in brain iron uptake in vivo that coincides with the period of greatest myelination and that a shortage of iron leads to myelination deficiency. We now demonstrate that iron availability modulates the generation of oligodendrocytes from tripotential-glial restricted precursor (GRP) cells isolated from the embryonic day 13.5 rat spinal cord. In contrast, we found no effects of iron on oligodendrocyte maturation or survival in vitro, nor did we find that increasing iron availability above basal levels increases oligodendrocyte generation from bipotential oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte/oligodendrocyte precursor cells (O-2A/OPCs). Our results raise the possibility that iron may affect oligodendrocyte development at stages during early embryogenesis rather than during later development.     

The remyelination Philosopher's Stone: stem and progenitor cell therapies for multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that leads to oligodendrocyte loss and subsequent demyelination of the adult central nervous system (CNS). The pathology is characterized by transient phases of recovery during which remyelination can occur as a result of resident oligodendroglial precursor and stem/progenitor cell activation. However, myelin repair efficiency remains low urging the development of new therapeutical approaches that promote remyelination activities. Current MS treatments target primarily the immune system in order to reduce the relapse rate and the formation of inflammatory lesions, whereas no therapies exist in order to regenerate damaged myelin sheaths. During the last few years, several transplantation studies have been conducted with adult neural stem/progenitor cells and glial precursor cells to evaluate their potential to generate mature oligodendrocytes that can remyelinate axons. In parallel, modulation of the endogenous progenitor niche by neural and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation with the aim of promoting CNS progenitor differentiation and myelination has been studied. Here, we summarize these findings and discuss the properties and consequences of the various molecular and cell-mediated remyelination approaches. Moreover, we address age-associated intrinsic cellular changes that might influence the regenerative outcome. We also evaluate the extent to which these experimental treatments might increase the regeneration capacity of the demyelinated human CNS and hence be turned into future therapies.     

Loss of ABCA8B decreases myelination by reducing oligodendrocyte precursor cells in mice

The myelin sheath, which is wrapped around axons, is a lipid-enriched structure produced by mature oligodendrocytes. Disruption of the myelin sheath is observed in several neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. A crucial component of myelin is sphingomyelin, levels of which can be increased by ABCA8, a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter family. ABCA8 is highly expressed in the cerebellum, specifically in oligodendroglia. However, whether ABCA8 plays a role in myelination and mechanisms that would underlie this role remain unknown. Here, we found that the absence of Abca8b, a mouse ortholog of ABCA8, led to decreased numbers of cerebellar oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and mature oligodendrocytes in mice. We show that in oligodendrocytes, ABCA8 interacts with chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), a molecule essential for OPC proliferation, migration, and myelination. In the absence of Abca8b, localization of CSPG4 to the plasma membrane was decreased, contributing to reduced cerebellar CSPG4 expression. Cerebellar CSPG4+ OPCs were also diminished, leading to decreased mature myelinating oligodendrocyte numbers and cerebellar myelination levels in Abca8b^?/? mice. In addition, electron microscopy analyses showed that the number of nonmyelinated cerebellar axons was increased, whereas cerebellar myelin thickness (g-ratio), myelin sheath periodicity, and axonal diameter were all decreased, indicative of disordered myelin ultrastructure. In line with disrupted cerebellar myelination, Abca8b^?/? mice showed lower cerebellar conduction velocity and disturbed locomotion. In summary, ABCA8 modulates cerebellar myelination, in part through functional regulation of the ABCA8-interacting protein CSPG4. Our findings suggest that ABCA8 disruption may contribute to the pathophysiology of myelin disorders.     

Gas6 enhances axonal ensheathment by MBP+ membranous processes in human DRG/OL promyelinating co-cultures

The molecular requirements for human myelination are incompletely defined, and further study is needed to fully understand the cellular mechanisms involved during development and in demyelinating diseases. We have established a human co-culture model to study myelination. Our earlier observations showed that addition of human γ-carboxylated growth-arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) to human oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) cultures enhanced their survival and maturation. Therefore, we explored the effect of Gas6 in co-cultures of enriched OPCs plated on axons of human fetal dorsal root ganglia explant. Gas6 significantly enhanced the number of myelin basic protein-positive (MBP⁺) oligodendrocytes with membranous processes parallel with and ensheathing axons relative to co-cultures maintained in defined medium only for 14 days. Gas6 did not increase the overall number of MBP⁺ oligodendrocytes/culture; however, it significantly increased the length of MBP⁺ oligodendrocyte processes in contact with and wrapping axons. Multiple oligodendrocytes were in contact with a single axon, and several processes from one oligodendrocyte made contact with one or multiple axons. Electron microscopy supported confocal Z-series microscopy demonstrating axonal ensheathment by MBP⁺ oligodendrocyte membranous processes in Gas6-treated co-cultures. Contacts between the axonal and oligodendrocyte membranes were evident and multiple wraps of oligodendrocyte membrane around the axon were visible supporting a model system in which to study events in human myelination and aspects of non-compact myelin formation.     

Silencing or knocking out the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger-3 (NCX3) impairs oligodendrocyte differentiation

Changes in intracellular [Ca(2+)](i) levels have been shown to influence developmental processes that accompany the transition of human oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into mature myelinating oligodendrocytes and are required for the initiation of the myelination and re-myelination processes. In the present study, we explored whether calcium signals mediated by the selective sodium calcium exchanger (NCX) family members NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3, play a role in oligodendrocyte maturation. Functional studies, as well as mRNA and protein expression analyses, revealed that NCX1 and NCX3, but not NCX2, were divergently modulated during OPC differentiation into oligodendrocyte phenotype. In fact, whereas NCX1 was downregulated, NCX3 was strongly upregulated during oligodendrocyte development. The importance of calcium signaling mediated by NCX3 during oligodendrocyte maturation was supported by several findings. Indeed, whereas knocking down the NCX3 isoform in OPCs prevented the upregulation of the myelin protein markers 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and myelin basic protein (MBP), its overexpression induced an upregulation of CNPase and MBP. Furthermore, NCX3-knockout mice showed not only a reduced size of spinal cord but also marked hypo-myelination, as revealed by decrease in MBP expression and by an accompanying increase in OPC number. Collectively, our findings indicate that calcium signaling mediated by NCX3 has a crucial role in oligodendrocyte maturation and myelin formation.     

IRS-2 branch of IGF-1 receptor signaling is essential for appropriate timing of myelination

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 increases proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and promotes differentiation of oligodendrocytes and their precursor cells, indicating an important function for IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling in myelin development. The insulin receptor substrates (IRS), IRS-1 and -2 serve as intracellular IGF-1R adaptor proteins and are expressed in neurons, oligodendrocytes and their precursors. To address the role of IRS-2 in myelination, we analyzed myelination in IRS-2 deficient (IRS-2(-/-)) mice and age-matched controls during postnatal development. Interestingly, expression of the most abundant myelin proteins, myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein was reduced in IRS-2(-/-) brains at postnatal day 10 (P10) as compared to controls. myelin basic protein immunostaining in P10-IRS-2(-/-) mice revealed a reduced immunostaining, but an unchanged regional distribution pattern. In cerebral myelin isolates at P10 unaltered relative expression of different myelin proteins was found, indicating quantitatively reduced but not qualitatively altered myelination. Interestingly, up-regulation of IRS-1 expression and increased IGF-1R signaling were observed in IRS-2(-/-) mice at P10-14, indicating a compensatory mechanism to overcome IRS-2 deficiency. Adult IRS-2(-/-) mice showed unaltered myelination and motor function. Furthermore, in neuronal/brain-specific insulin receptor knockout mice myelination was unchanged. Thus, our experiments reveal that IGF-1R/IRS-2 mediated signals are critical for appropriate timing of myelination in vivo.     

Oligodendroglial defects during quakingviable cerebellar development

The selective RNA‐binding protein Quaking I (QKI) has previously been implicated in RNA localization and stabilization, alternative splicing, cell proliferation, and differentiation. The spontaneously‐occurring quakingviable (qkv) mutant mouse exhibits a sharply attenuated level of QKI in myelin‐producing cells, including oligodendrocytes (OL) because of the loss of an OL‐specific promoter. The disruption of QKI in OLs results in severe hypomyelination of the central nervous system, but the underlying cellular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we used the qkv mutant mouse as a model to study myelination defects in the cerebellum. We found that oligodendroglial development and myelination are adversely affected in the cerebellum of qkv mice. Specifically, we identified an increase in the total number of oligodendroglial precursor cells in qkv cerebella, a substantial portion of which migrated into the grey matter. Furthermore, these mislocalized oligodendroglial precursor cells retained their migratory morphology late into development. Interestingly, a number of these presumptive oligodendrocyte precursors were found at the Purkinje cell layer in qkv cerebella, resembling Bergman glia. These findings indicate that QKI is involved in multiple aspects of oligodendroglial development. QKI disruption can impact the cell fate of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, their migration and differentiation, and ultimately myelination in the cerebellum. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 972–982, 2016     

Rat optic nerve oligodendrocytes develop in the absence of viable retinal ganglion cell axons.

Retinal ganglion cell axons and axonal electrical activity have been considered essential for migration, proliferation, and survival of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the optic nerve. To define axonal requirements during oligodendrogenesis, the developmental appearance of oligodendrocyte progenitors and oligodendrocytes were compared between normal and transected optic nerves. In the absence of viable axons, oligodendrocyte precursors migrated along the length of the nerve and subsequently multiplied and differentiated into myelin basic protein-positive oligodendrocytes at similar densities and with similar temporal and spatial patterns as in control nerves. Since transected optic nerves failed to grow radially, the number of oligodendrocyte lineage cells was reduced compared with control nerves. However, the mitotic indices of progenitors and the percentage of oligodendrocytes undergoing programmed cell death were similar in control and transected optic nerves. Oligodendrocytes lacked their normal longitudinal orientation, developed fewer, shorter processes, and failed to form myelin in the transected nerves. These data indicate that normal densities of oligodendrocytes can develop in the absence of viable retinal ganglion axons, and support the possibility that axons assure their own myelination by regulating the number of myelin internodes formed by individual oligodendrocytes.     

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling promotes oligodendrocyte myelination in vitro

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 1167-1180. ABSTRACT: Multiple extracellular factors have been implicated in orchestrating myelination of the CNS; however, less is known about the intracellular signaling cascades that regulate this process. We have previously shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes oligodendrocyte myelination. Here, we screened for the activation of candidate signaling pathways in in vitro myelination assays and found that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) signaling positively correlated with basal levels of oligodendrocyte myelination as well as BDNF-induced myelination in vitro. By selectively manipulating Erk1/2 activation in oligodendrocytes in vitro, we found that constitutive activation of Erk1/2 significantly increased myelination, mimicking the promyelinating effect of BDNF, and also caused myelination to occur earlier. Conversely, selective inhibition of Erk1/2 in oligodendrocytes significantly reduced the basal level of myelination and blocked the promyelinating effect of BDNF. Analysis of myelinating spinal cord and corpus callosum white matter tracts revealed that the majority of mature oligodendrocytes are co-labeled with phospho-Erk1/2, whereas phospho-Erk1/2 was rarely observed in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Finally, the total level of phospho-Erk1/2 correlated with myelin formation during the early postnatal period. Collectively, these data identify that Erk1/2 signaling within oligodendrocytes exerts an important and direct effect to promote myelination.     

A culture system to study oligodendrocyte myelination processes using engineered nanofibers

Current methods for studying central nervous system myelination necessitate permissive axonal substrates conducive to myelin wrapping by oligodendrocytes. We have developed a neuron-free culture system in which electron-spun nanofibers of varying sizes substitute for axons as a substrate for oligodendrocyte myelination, thereby allowing manipulation of the biophysical elements of axonal-oligodendroglial interactions. To investigate axonal regulation of myelination, this system effectively uncouples the role of molecular (inductive) cues from that of biophysical properties of the axon. We use this method to uncover the causation and sufficiency of fiber diameter in the initiation of concentric wrapping by rat oligodendrocytes. We also show that oligodendrocyte precursor cells display sensitivity to the biophysical properties of fiber diameter and initiate membrane ensheathment before differentiation. The use of nanofiber scaffolds will enable screening for potential therapeutic agents that promote oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination and will also provide valuable insight into the processes involved in remyelination.     

Oligodendrocyte N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptor Signaling: Insights into Its Functions

Myelination by oligodendrocytes facilitates rapid nerve conduction. Loss of oligodendrocytes and failure of myelination lead to nerve degeneration and numerous demyelinating white matter diseases. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are key regulators on neuron survival and functions, have been recently identified to express in oligodendrocytes, especially in the myelin sheath. NMDA receptor signaling in oligodendrocytes plays crucial roles in energy metabolism and myelination. In the present review, we highlight the subcellular location-specific impairment of excessive NMDA receptor signaling on oligodendrocyte energy metabolism in soma and myelin, and the mechanisms including Ca²⁺ overload, acidotoxicity, mitochondria dysfunction, and impairment of respiratory chains. Conversely, physiological NMDA receptor signaling regulates differentiation and migration of oligodendrocytes. How can we use above knowledge to treat excitotoxic oligodendrocyte loss, congenital myelination deficiency, or postnatal demyelination? A thorough understanding of NMDA receptor signaling-mediated cellular events in oligodendrocytes at the pathophysiological level will no doubt aid in exploring effective therapeutic strategies for demyelinating white matter diseases.