Hu Hao, Gao Tianhao, Zhao Jingwei, Li Huiliang
Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Systemic Medicine Centre, School of Basic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Glia. 2025 Sep;73(9):1770-1783. doi: 10.1002/glia.70033. Epub 2025 May 15.
Oligodendrogenesis and myelin formation are important processes in the central nervous system (CNS) of jawed vertebrates, underpinning the highly efficient neural computation within the compact CNS architecture. Myelin, the dense lipid sheath wrapped around axons, enables rapid signal transmission and modulation of neural circuits. Oligodendrocytes are generated from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), which are widely distributed in the adult CNS and continue to produce new oligodendrocytes throughout life. Adult oligodendrogenesis is integral to adaptive myelination, which fine-tunes neural circuits in response to neuronal activity, contributing to neuroplasticity, learning, and memory. Emerging evidence also highlights the role of oligodendrogenesis in specialized brain regions, linking oligodendrocytes to metabolic and homeostatic functions. In the aging and diseased brain, dysregulated oligodendrogenesis exacerbates myelin loss and may contribute to pathogenesis. In addition, maladaptive myelination driven by aberrant neuronal activity could sustain a dysfunction in conditions such as epilepsy. This review summarizes the current understanding of oligodendrogenesis, with insights into its evolution, regulation, and impact on aging and disease.
少突胶质细胞生成和髓鞘形成是有颌脊椎动物中枢神经系统（CNS）中的重要过程，是致密的CNS结构内高效神经计算的基础。髓鞘是包裹在轴突周围的致密脂质鞘，能够实现神经回路的快速信号传递和调节。少突胶质细胞由少突胶质前体细胞（OPC）产生，OPC广泛分布于成体CNS中，并在整个生命过程中持续产生新的少突胶质细胞。成体少突胶质细胞生成是适应性髓鞘形成所必需的，适应性髓鞘形成可根据神经元活动微调神经回路，有助于神经可塑性、学习和记忆。新出现的证据还突出了少突胶质细胞生成在特殊脑区中的作用，将少突胶质细胞与代谢和稳态功能联系起来。在衰老和患病的大脑中，少突胶质细胞生成失调会加剧髓鞘丢失，并可能导致发病机制。此外，由异常神经元活动驱动的适应性不良髓鞘形成可能会在癫痫等病症中维持功能障碍。本综述总结了目前对少突胶质细胞生成的理解，并深入探讨了其进化、调节及其对衰老和疾病的影响。
