Role of Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells in White Matter Injury

This chapter provides a comprehensive review of white matter injuries, with a particular focus on oligodendrocyte lineage cell-mediated mechanisms and strategies. Traumatic mechanical insults, vascular conditions, perinatal injuries, and degenerative diseases all have white matter components and can be studied using different animal models. These distinct etiologies converge on similar pathophysiological features comprised of programmed cell death of oligodendrocyte lineage cells, demyelination, release of myelin debris, ion imbalance, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and Wallerian degeneration. Therapeutics that target oligodendrocyte lineage cells are warranted due to their role in remyelination, immunomodulation, circuit remodeling, and maintenance of vasculature. Thus, emerging diagnostic techniques can help in assessing the extent of oligodendrocyte lineage cell-related pathology, while regenerative treatments, including cell transplantation, endogenous cell mobilization, biomaterials, and rehabilitation, can facilitate recovery by driving regeneration of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and myelin. Despite tremendous progress in this field, the heterogeneity of oligodendrocyte lineage cells suggests that a personalized medicine approach may optimize recovery following injury.