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Axo-myelinic neurotransmission: a novel mode of cell signalling in the central nervous system

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 19, pages 49–58 (2018)Cite this article

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An Erratum to this article was published on 14 December 2017

This article has been updated

Abstract

It is widely recognized that myelination of axons greatly enhances the speed of signal transmission. An exciting new finding is the dynamic communication between axons and their myelin-forming oligodendrocytes, including activity-dependent signalling from axon to myelin. The oligodendrocyte–myelin complex may in turn respond by providing metabolic support or alter subtle myelin properties to modulate action potential propagation. In this Opinion, we discuss what is known regarding the molecular physiology of this novel, synapse-like communication and speculate on potential roles in disease states including multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and Alzheimer disease. An emerging appreciation of the contribution of white-matter perturbations to neurological dysfunction identifies the axo-myelinic synapse as a potential novel therapeutic target.

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Figure 1: Molecular architecture of the proposed axo-myelinic synapse.
Figure 2: Hypothetical transition from OPC synapse to axo-myelinic synapse.
Figure 3: Proposed pathological consequences of overactivation of the axo-myelinic synapse.

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  • 14 December 2017

    In this Opinion article, the first names of the authors did not appear. The error has been corrected in the online versions of the article. The editors apologize to the authors and readers for this error.

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Acknowledgements

Work in the authors' laboratories was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Centre for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain) and an European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant (to K.A.N.) and by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates — Health Solutions, Alberta Prion Research Institute, Canada Research Chairs and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (to P.K.S.).

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  1. Ileana Micu, Jason R. Plemel and Andrew V. Caprariello: I.M., J.R.P. and A.V.C. contributed equally to the manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, T2N 4N1, AB, Canada

    Ileana Micu, Jason R. Plemel, Andrew V. Caprariello & Peter K. Stys

  2. Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, 37075, Germany

    Klaus-Armin Nave

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Contributions

P. K. Stys: researching data for article, substantial contribution to discussion of content, writing, review/editing of manuscript before submission. I. Micu: researching data for article, substantial contribution to discussion of content, writing, review/editing of manuscript before submission. J. R. Plemel: researching data for article, substantial contribution to discussion of content, writing, review/editing of manuscript before submission. A. V. Caprariello: researching data for article, substantial contribution to discussion of content, writing, review/editing of manuscript before submission. K.-A. Nave: substantial contribution to discussion of content, writing, review/editing of manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Peter K. Stys.

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Micu, I., Plemel, J., Caprariello, A. et al. Axo-myelinic neurotransmission: a novel mode of cell signalling in the central nervous system. Nat Rev Neurosci 19, 49–58 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.128

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