# Oligodendrocyte: Development, Plasticity, Biological Functions, Diseases, and Therapeutic Targets

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the role of oligodendrocytes in CNS diseases and explores potential therapeutic strategies using regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of oligodendrocyte biology and discusses novel therapeutic approaches for neurological diseases.

## Key findings

- Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells can regenerate lost myelin and restore axonal function.
- Neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's are linked to oligodendrocyte dysfunction.
- Nanocarrier drug delivery systems show promise for overcoming blood-brain barrier challenges in CNS therapies.

## Abstract

In the past few years, the incidence rate of central nervous system (CNS) diseases is still growing. Meanwhile, the molecular mechanism on the pathogenesis of neurological diseases remains elusive. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are distributed in the whole CNS and represent a population of migrating and proliferating adult progenitor oligodendrocytes that can be differentiated into oligodendrocytes (OLs). The main function of OLs is to produce myelin, the membrane wrapping tightly around the axon, which are associated with the myelination and remyelination. During regeneration, the new OLs from OPCs can regenerate lost myelin, which prevents axonal degeneration and restores its plasticity and function. Considering these energy‐consuming processes, the high metabolic turnover OLs are susceptible to neurotoxic factors and its excitatory toxicity. Thus, the pathogenesis of OPC and OL are proven in neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, major psychiatric diseases, and epilepsy. The current study reviewed the development, plasticity as well as application of OPCs and OLs researches on CNS diseases. Additionally, the effective methods and bioengineering technologies as well as biomaterials relevant to regenerative medicine are also discussed, which could provide the novel insight into the therapeutic treatment of those diseases, exploring new pathological clues, identifying the key molecules and targets as well as the potential biomarkers.

The oligodendrocyte lineage and its roles in development, plasticity, and CNS homeostasis have been shown to have the potential to treat neurological diseases. However, the main obstacles to clinical translation, particularly in terms of BBB challenges and precise delivery. To date, the nanocarrier drug delivery system is one of the promising ways and efficiently applied in numerous CNS diseases.