Extracellular vesicles in the oligodendrocyte microenvironment

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 725; p. 134915
• Main Author: Krämer-Albers, Eva-Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 23-04-2020
• Subjects: Animals; Cellular Microenvironment - physiology; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Extracellular Vesicles - metabolism; Humans; Microenvironment; Myelin Sheath - metabolism; Myelination; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated - metabolism; Neuron-glia interaction; Oligodendrocytes; Oligodendroglia - metabolism; Signal Transduction - physiology; Tissue homeostasis; Myelination; Tissue homeostasis; Oligodendrocytes; Extracellular vesicles; Neuron-glia interaction; Microenvironment; Exosomes
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134915

•Extracellular vesicles released by oligodendrocytes (OL-EVs) are internalized by microglia and neurons.•OL-EVs mediate homeostatic maintenance within the oligodendrocyte-neuron microenvironment.•OL-EVs targeted to microglia mediate clearance of redundant myelin components.•OL-EVs are neuroprotective, while OPC-derived EVs exhibit regenerative properties.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) recently took centre stage as mediators of cellular crosstalk modulating the tissue microenvironment. Released by all types of neural cells, EVs may execute a broad spectrum of functions ranging from maintenance of neuronal homeostasis and regulation of neural plasticity to the spread of neurodegenerative agents. Myelinating oligodendrocytes and axons form a highly specialized functional entity that depends on intimate interactions within the oligodendrocyte-neuron niche. EVs released by oligodendrocytes are internalized by neurons in response to neuronal signals and exhibit neuroprotective properties but also may influence other cells present in the microenvironment. Here we discuss the role of EVs released by oligodendrocytes in regulating development, homeostatic maintenance and regeneration within the oligodendrocyte niche.