BDNF-TrkB Signaling in Lifelong Central Nervous System Myelination and Myelin Repair

Abstract

Myelin, the lipid membrane that wraps around nerves, is a critical component of the peripheral (PNS) and central nervous systems (CNS) that enables rapid neurotransmission and is critical for brain function, including motor skill acquisition and working memory. In the CNS, myelin acquisition occurs rapidly during development, and myelin sheaths are made by oligodendrocytes in response to a host of extracellular factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neuronal activity. BDNF promotes CNS myelination by activating its TrkB receptor expressed by oligodendrocytes, and loss of oligodendrocyte TrkB delays myelin acquisition and reduces myelin sheath thickness. Myelin acquis..