Adenosine: a neuron-glial transmitter promoting myelination in the CNS in response to action potentials.
Neuronal activity influences myelination of the brain, but the molecular mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Here, we report that oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) express functional adenosine receptors, which are activated in response to action potential firing. Adenosine acts as a potent neuron-glial transmitter to inhibit OPC proliferation, stimulate differentiation, and promote the formation of myelin. This neuron-glial signal provides a molecular mechanism for promoting oligodendrocyte development and myelination in response to impulse activity and may help resolve controversy on the opposite effects of impulse activity on myelination in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Stevens
Beth
B
Laboratory of Cellular and Synaptic Neurophysiology, National Institutes of Health, NICHD, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Porta
Stefania
S
Haak
Laurel L
LL
Gallo
Vittorio
V
Fields
R Douglas
RD
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000241:Adenosine; D002118:Calcium