title: Pushing Forward: Remyelination as the New Frontier in CNS Diseases.
abstract: The evolutionary acquisition of myelin sheaths around large caliber axons in the central nervous system (CNS) represented a milestone in the development of vertebrate higher brain function. Myelin ensheathment of axons enabled saltatory conduction and thus accelerated information processing. However, a number of CNS diseases harm or destroy myelin and oligodendrocytes (myelin-producing cells), ultimately resulting in demyelination. In the adult CNS, new oligodendrocytes can be generated from a quiescent pool of precursor cells, which - upon differentiation - can replace lost myelin sheaths. The efficiency of this spontaneous regeneration is limited, which leads to incomplete remyelination and residual clinical symptoms. Here, we discuss CNS pathologies characterized by white matter degeneration and regeneration and highlight drugs that could potentially serve as remyelination therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Göttle
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: hans-peter.hartung@uni-duesseldorf.de.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: kuery@uni-duesseldorf.de.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Küry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases; D006801:Humans; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: myelin repair; neuroregeneration; oligodendroglial cells; therapies; white matter