Abstract
Oligodendrocytes provide metabolic and functional support to neuronal cells, rendering them key players in the functioning of the central nervous system. Oligodendrocytes need to be newly formed from a pool of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). The differentiation of OPCs into mature and myelinating cells is a multistep process, tightly controlled by spatiotemporal activation and repression of specific growth and transcription factors. While oligodendrocyte turnover is rather slow under physiological conditions, a disruption in this balanced differentiation process, for example in case of a differentiation block, could have devastating consequences during ageing and in pathological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. Over the recent years, increasing evidence has shown that epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs, are major contributors to OPC differentiation. In this review, we discuss how these epigenetic mechanisms orchestrate and influence oligodendrocyte maturation. These insights are a crucial starting point for studies that aim to identify the contribution of epigenetics in demyelinating diseases and may thus provide new therapeutic targets to induce myelin repair in the long run.
Highlights
Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are myelinating glial cells within the central nervous system (CNS) that insulate neuronal axons to provide them with trophic, metabolic and functional support
This review provides an overview of the current provides an overview of the current understanding of the physiological process of OL lineage understanding of the physiological process of OL lineage development and how epigenetic development and how the different epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the thedifferent regulation of this mechanisms are involved in the regulation of this process
Family (OLIG1/2, ASCL1) and preventing their translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus [20,21]. Another family of transcriptional regulators are HMG-domain transcription factors, that are classified as the sex determining region Y-box (SOX) family, of which SOX10 is a well-established regulator involved in terminal OL differentiation and myelination, through its direct binding to the promoter region of myelin genes to enhance their [22,23]
Summary
Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are myelinating glial cells within the central nervous system (CNS) that insulate neuronal axons to provide them with trophic, metabolic and functional support. OPCs arise during early development, persist throughout a lifetime and occupy around 5%–10% of the total number of cells in the brain [2,3] In response to both intrinsic molecular cues and extracellular signals, OPCs are able to withdraw from their proliferative stage and differentiate into myelin-producing OLs [4]. Alterations in these extrinsic stimuli, such as an increase in inhibitory ECM molecules (LINGO, glycosaminoglycans, fibronectin) or secreted factors (BMP, FGF), hamper differentiation, possibly via an upstream effect on transcriptional and epigenetic processes that regulate OL differentiation [5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
