Enhancement of Axonal Myelination in Wounded Spinal Cord Using Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Transplantation

Abstract

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) myelinate axons in the central nervous system (CNS). OLs form myelin sheath which is a spiral structure around a neuron axon. Each OL forms multiple segments of myelin that wrap around many spinal axons. The myelination increases the propagation rate of action potentials through the axon, thereby allowing more efficient signal transmission through the nervous system. Spinal cord injury causes massive tissue destruction and vascular rupture. Such trauma causes the loss of oligodendrocytes and demyelination. Following CNS injury, OLs proliferate and migrate into the neural lesion and limited myelin regeneration. A number of genes that are activated and involved in process of remyelinating damaged axons have been identified. The transplantation of OPCs has been shown as an effective treatment in restoring remyelinated neurons. A biomaterial scaffold can act as a vehicle for OPC delivery and create a permissive environment for transplanted cells to improve axonal myelination. It was also demonstrated that electric fields (EFs) can direct OPCs migration. This emerging treatment may be used as a novel therapeutic method to enhance OPCs migration toward the lesion.