Biology of oligodendrocytes in aging and models of Alzheimer’s disease
White matter is composed of mostly myelinated axons that connect neurons from different brain regions into functional circuits. Aging results in both grey and white matter degeneration, but the specific cellular responses to the damage are unknown. Strikingly, in Alzheimer’s disease white matter alterations occur early in the disease course. Here, we analyzed microglia and oligodendrocyte responses in the white matter in aging rodents and models of Alzheimer’s disease. Using a mouse model of AD, we found that amyloidosis itself triggers age-related oligodendrocyte and myelin damage. Mechanistically, CD8+ T cells promote the progressive accumulation of abnormally activated microglia that display myelin-damaging activity. Thus, immune responses against myelinating oligodendrocytes may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases with amyloidosis.
About the speaker
Mikael Simons is a Professor for Molecular Neurobiology at the TU Munich, and Head of Clinical Research & Clinical Trial Unit Munich at the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Munich (DZNE/Munich). He is board-certified clinical neurologist with specialized expertise in neuroimmunological and neurodegenerative diseases. The main research focus is on glial biology and neuroinflammation in health and disease. His lab works on the mechanisms of CNS regeneration with the overall aim to come up with new strategies of how to promote repair of the damaged CNS in diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
