TNFα promotes proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitors and remyelination

HA Arnett, J Mason, M Marino, K Suzuki… - Nature …, 2001 - nature.com
HA Arnett, J Mason, M Marino, K Suzuki, GK Matsushima, JPY Ting
Nature neuroscience, 2001nature.com
Here we used mice lacking tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and its associated receptors to
study a model of demyelination and remyelination in which these events could be carefully
controlled using a toxin, cuprizone. Unexpectedly, the lack of TNFα led to a significant delay
in remyelination as assessed by histology, immunohistochemistry for myelin proteins and
electron microscopy coupled with morphometric analysis. Failure of repair correlated with a
reduction in the pool of proliferating oligodendrocyte progenitors (bromodeoxyuridine …
Abstract
Here we used mice lacking tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and its associated receptors to study a model of demyelination and remyelination in which these events could be carefully controlled using a toxin, cuprizone. Unexpectedly, the lack of TNFα led to a significant delay in remyelination as assessed by histology, immunohistochemistry for myelin proteins and electron microscopy coupled with morphometric analysis. Failure of repair correlated with a reduction in the pool of proliferating oligodendrocyte progenitors (bromodeoxyuridine-labeled NG2+ cells) followed by a reduction in the number of mature oligodendrocytes. Analysis of mice lacking TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or TNFR2 indicated that TNFR2, not TNFR1, is critical to oligodendrocyte regeneration. This unexpected reparative role for TNFα in the CNS is important for understanding oligodendrocyte regeneration/proliferation, nerve remyelination and the design of new therapeutics for demyelinating diseases.
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