Lame ducks or fierce creatures? - The role of oligodendrocytes in multiple sclerosis

In the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), oligodendrocytes and its myelin sheaths are thought to be the primary target of destruction. The mechanism leading to oligodendrocyte injury and demyelination is still elusive. Oligodendrocytes are maintaining up to 50 internodes of myelin, which is an extraordinary metabolic demand. This makes them one of the most vulnerable cell types in the central nervous system (CNS), and even small insults can lead to oligodendrocyte impairment, demyelination, and axonal dysfunction. For this reason, oligodendrocytes are viewed as more or less the lame ducks of the CNS who can easily become victims. However, recent data demonstrate that this perception possibly needs to be revised. The latest data suggest that oligodendrocytes may also act as fierce creatures, influencing the surrounding cells in many ways to preserve its own, as well as their function, allowing sustained functionality of the CNS upon an attack. In this review, the concept of reactive or activated oligodendrocyte is introduced, describing alterations in oligodendrocytes which are either protective mechanisms allowing survival in otherwise lethal environment or influence and possibly modulate the ongoing inflammation. Although harnessed, oligodendrocytes might actively modulate and shape their environment and be part of the immune privilege of the brain.