Abstract:

  Oligodencrocytes (OLs) are the main glial cells of the central nervous system involved in myelination of axons. In multiple sclerosis (MS), there is an imbalance between demyelination and remyelination processes, the last one performed by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and OLs, resulting into a permanent demyelination, axonal damage and neuronal loss. In MS lesions, astrocytes and microglias play an important part in permeabilization of blood-brain barrier and initiation of OPCs proliferation. Migration and differentiation of OPCs are influenced by various factors and the process is finalized by insufficient acummulation of OLs into the MS lesion. In relation to all these processes, the author will discuss the potential targets for remyelination strategies

Key words: multiple sclerosis, oligodencrocytes, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, demyelination, remyelination, semaphorin, basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2, leucin-rich repeat and immunoglobulin-like-domain-containing nogo receptor-interacting protein 1, canonical Notch signaling, endocrine receptors