title: Axonal signals and oligodendrocyte differentiation.
abstract: Axons produce signals that regulate oligodendrocyte proliferation, survival, terminal differentiation, and myelinogenesis. We review here recent in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches that aim to characterize axonal signals to oligodendroglia and to identify molecular mediators that regulate differentiation of oligodendendrocytes. We propose that the promoters of myelin genes, whose activation during terminal differentiation is modulated by axonal signals, can provide a means to identify molecular mediators of axo-oligodendroglial signals.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzali
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wrabetz
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000235:genetics; D020880:Neuregulins / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D051880:Receptors, Notch
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020880:Neuregulins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000241:Adenosine