By studying axonal pathology in human multiple sclerosis and its models, we observed that myelin ensheathment itself can be detrimental for axonal survival. We hypothesize that oligodendroglial support is disrupted under inflammatory conditions, with the most severe consequences for the axons that remain physically isolated from the extracellular milieu by myelin.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Trapp, B. D. & Nave, K.-A. Multiple sclerosis: an immune or neurodegenerative disorder? Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 31, 247–269 (2008). This review discusses the role of neurodegeneration and axonal damage in MS.
Nikić, I. et al. A reversible form of axon damage in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Nat. Med. 17, 495–499 (2011). This paper reports that axonal injury is an early feature in MS and EAE and is observed prior to myelin loss.
Nave, K. A. Myelination and support of axonal integrity by glia. Nature 468, 244–252 (2010). This review discusses the concept of axonal support by oligodendrocytes.
Fünfschilling, U. et al. Glycolytic oligodendrocytes maintain myelin and long-term axonal integrity. Nature 485, 517–521 (2012). This paper reports axonal metabolic support by myelinating oligodendrocytes.
Stassart, R. M., Möbius, W., Nave, K. A. & Edgar, J. M. The axon-myelin unit in development and degenerative disease. Front. Neurosci. 12, 467 (2018). This review discusses the axon–glia unit and its relevance for axonal integrity.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Schäffner, E. et al. Myelin insulation as a risk factor for axonal degeneration in autoimmune demyelinating disease. Nat. Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01366-9 (2023).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lack of myelin improves axon survival in inflammatory lesions in the CNS. Nat Neurosci 26, 1145–1146 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01372-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01372-x
