Effect of glial cells on remyelination after spinal cord injury

Remyelination is crucial for recovering axon function after spinal cord injury. Glial cells, abundant in the central nervous system, become activated at the injury site and affect inflammatory responses. This review focuses on oligodendrocyte precursor cells and their interactions with other glial cells during remyelination. Activated astrocytes influence oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) by affecting their proliferation, differentiation, and maturation. Microglia, another type of glial cell, impact remyelination by regulating inflammation after spinal cord injury. Understanding how oligodendrocyte precursor cells interact with other glial cells is essential for designing effective remyelination therapies after spinal cord injury.

• 1
  Astrocytes directly or indirectly affect remyelination by acting on OPCs or oligodendrocytes. Specifically, astrocytes regulate the balance between Schwann cells and oligodendrocyte remyelination, with oligodendrocyte remyelination only observed in areas where astrocytes are present.
• 2
  Microglia can be divided into different subtypes in the CNS, which play distinct roles in remyelination. Some myelin fragments may remain outside residual axons; microglia are responsible for removal of fragments.
• 3
  M2 microglia promote OPC proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, while M1 cells inhibit remyelination after SCI. Interleukin-10 is secreted by M2b microglia and is an anti-inflammatory cytokine.