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.
Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Seonok
S
Lee
Michelle K
MK
Leach
Stephanie A
SA
Redmond
S Y Christin
SY
Chong
Synthia H
SH
Mellon
Samuel J
SJ
Tuck
Zhang-Qi
ZQ
Feng
Joseph M
JM
Corey
Jonah R
JR
Chan
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D011107:Polylysine