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Myosin II has distinct functions in PNS and CNS myelin sheath formation

Haibo Wang1, Ambika Tewari, Steven Einheber

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|September 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Myosin II inhibition hinders peripheral nervous system myelination by Schwann cells but enhances central nervous system myelination by oligodendrocytes, revealing distinct mechanisms in myelin sheath formation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Myelin sheath formation is crucial for axonal insulation and nerve impulse conduction.
  • Glial cell cytoskeleton dynamics are implicated in myelinogenesis, but specific mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Myosin II regulates actin dynamics and is a potential mediator of cytoskeletal rearrangements during myelination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of myosin II in myelin formation by Schwann cells (SC) and oligodendrocytes (OL).
  • To determine how myosin II activity influences glial-axon interactions and myelination in the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Main Methods:

  • Inhibition and down-regulation of myosin II activity in SC and OL cultures.
  • Assessment of SC-axon interactions, including segregation and elongation.
  • Evaluation of OL branching, differentiation, and myelin formation.
  • Analysis of actin cytoskeleton dynamics in response to myosin II modulation.

Main Results:

  • Myosin II inhibition impaired SC ability to segregate axons and achieve a 1:1 relationship, crucial for peripheral nervous system myelination.
  • Conversely, inhibiting myosin II enhanced OL branching, differentiation, and myelin formation in the central nervous system.
  • Myosin II regulates SC polarization and OL branching through control of localized actin polymerization.

Conclusions:

  • Myosin II plays distinct and opposing roles in myelination by Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes.
  • These findings highlight divergent molecular mechanisms governing myelination in the peripheral versus central nervous systems.
  • Myosin II's regulation of actin dynamics is critical for glial cell polarization and myelination efficiency.

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