Mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling in oligodendrocytes: a comparison of primary cultures and CG-4.

Oligodendrocytes play a significant role in the central nervous system, as these cells are responsible for myelinating axons and allowing for the efficient conduction of nerve impulses. Therefore, any understanding we can gain about the functional biology of oligodendrocytes will give us important insights into demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, where oligodendrocytes and myelin are damaged or destroyed. Currently, much attention has focussed on the role of a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases in OL.

Protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling in oligodendrocytes.

Oligodendrocytes (OL) play a significant physiological role in the central nervous system by creating the myelin sheath that allows for the efficient conduction of nerve impulses. Therefore, it is important to understand which signalling cascades define the proliferation, differentiation, survival, and myelin formation potential of these cells. Currently, much of the knowledge in this field has focused on two sets of protein kinase signalling molecules: Protein kinase C (PKC) and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs).

Role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 in oligodendroglial process extension.

The relationship between extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activation and process extension in cultured bovine oligodendrocytes (OLGs) was investigated. Process extension was induced through the exposure of cultured OLGs to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), for various intervals. During the isolation of these OLGs from bovine brain, the original processes were lost.