# Oligodendrocytes Are Active Participants in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis and Its Animal Models

**Authors:** Min Li Lin, Wensheng Lin

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ijms27041779 · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2026-02-12

## TL;DR

This paper reviews recent findings showing that oligodendrocytes actively contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis and its animal model, rather than being just passive victims.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the novel perspective that oligodendrocytes play active roles in the progression of MS and EAE, challenging previous assumptions.

## Key findings

- Oligodendrocytes are not merely targets but active participants in MS and EAE pathogenesis.
- Recent studies reveal dynamic roles of oligodendrocytes in autoimmune inflammation and demyelination.
- This review compiles evidence supporting a shift in understanding of oligodendrocyte function in these diseases.

## Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) are autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). For decades, oligodendrocytes were regarded as passive targets of autoimmune inflammation in these conditions. However, recent studies challenge this view, revealing that oligodendrocytes are active participants—not just passive targets—in the pathogenesis of MS and EAE. In this review, we summarize recent research that highlights the active and dynamic roles of oligodendrocytes in these diseases.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Multiple sclerosis (MONDO:0005301), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (MONDO:0005134)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Il18 (interleukin 18) [NCBI Gene 16173] {aka Igif, Il-18}, Fadd (Fas associated via death domain) [NCBI Gene 14082] {aka Mort1/FADD}, Bdnf (brain derived neurotrophic factor) [NCBI Gene 12064], Cd4 (CD4 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12504] {aka L3T4, Ly-4}, Il6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 16193] {aka Il-6}, Nfkb2 (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 2, p49/p100) [NCBI Gene 18034] {aka NF-kappaB2, lyt, p49, p49/p100, p50B, p52}, Mbp (myelin basic protein) [NCBI Gene 17196] {aka Hmbpr, golli-mbp, jve, mld, shi}, Nfkbia (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells inhibitor, alpha) [NCBI Gene 18035] {aka Nfkbi}, Ifngr1 (interferon gamma receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 15979] {aka CD119, IFN-gammaR, Ifgr, Ifngr, Nktar}, Ifng (interferon gamma) [NCBI Gene 15978] {aka IFN-g, If2f, Ifg}, Socs1 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 1) [NCBI Gene 12703] {aka Cish1, Cish7, JAB, SOCS-1, SSI-1}, C1ra (complement component 1, r subcomponent A) [NCBI Gene 50909] {aka C1r, mC1rA}, Plp1 (proteolipid protein (myelin) 1) [NCBI Gene 18823] {aka DM20, Plp, jimpy, jp, msd, rsh}, Galc (galactosylceramidase) [NCBI Gene 14420] {aka 2310068B06Rik, A930008M05Rik, Gacy, twi, twitcher}, Cd55 (CD55 molecule, decay accelerating factor for complement) [NCBI Gene 13136] {aka Daf, Daf-GPI, Daf1, GPI-DAF}, Stat1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) [NCBI Gene 20846] {aka 2010005J02Rik}, Il17a (interleukin 17A) [NCBI Gene 16171] {aka Ctla-8, Ctla8, IL-17, IL-17A, Il17}, Ccl2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 20296] {aka HC11, JE, MCAF, MCP-1, MCP1, SMC-CF}, Casp3 (caspase 3) [NCBI Gene 12367] {aka A830040C14Rik, AC-3, CASP-3, CC3, CPP-32, CPP32}, Ccl5 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 5) [NCBI Gene 20304] {aka MuRantes, RANTES, SISd, Scya5, TCP228}, Fgfr1 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 14182] {aka Eask, FGFR-I, FLG, Fgfr-1, Flt-2, Fr1}, Atf6 (activating transcription factor 6) [NCBI Gene 226641] {aka 9130025P16Rik, 9630036G24, Atf6alpha, ESTM49}, Cxcl10 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10) [NCBI Gene 15945] {aka C7, CRG-2, INP10, IP-10, IP10, Ifi10}, Cd59a (CD59a antigen) [NCBI Gene 12509] {aka Cd59, MAC-IP, MACIF}, Nfkb1 (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1, p105) [NCBI Gene 18033] {aka NF-KB1, NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB1, p105, p50, p50/p105}, Atf4 (activating transcription factor 4) [NCBI Gene 11911] {aka Atf-4, C/ATF, CREB-2, CREB2, TAXREB67}, Il12a (interleukin 12a) [NCBI Gene 16159] {aka IL-12p35, Il-12a, Ll12a, p35}, Rela (Rela proto-oncogene, NFKB subunit) [NCBI Gene 19697] {aka p65, p65 NF-kappa B, p65 NFkB}, Eif2ak3 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3) [NCBI Gene 13666] {aka Pek, Perk}, Rel (Rel proto-oncogene, NFKB subunit) [NCBI Gene 19696] {aka c-Rel}, Cd46 (CD46 antigen, complement regulatory protein) [NCBI Gene 17221] {aka Mcp}, Mog (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) [NCBI Gene 17441] {aka B230317G11Rik}, Eif2a (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A) [NCBI Gene 229317] {aka D030048D22, D3Ertd194e}, Tnfrsf1b (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 1b) [NCBI Gene 21938] {aka CD120b, TNF-R-II, TNF-R2, TNF-R75, TNF-alphaR2, TNFBR}, C1s1 (complement component 1, s subcomponent 1) [NCBI Gene 50908] {aka C1s, C1sa}, Hspa5 (heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 5) [NCBI Gene 14828] {aka Bip, D2Wsu141e, D2Wsu17e, Grp78, Hsce70, SEZ-7}, Tnfrsf1a (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 1a) [NCBI Gene 21937] {aka CD120a, FPF, TNF-R, TNF-R-I, TNF-R1, TNF-R55}, Igf1r (insulin-like growth factor I receptor) [NCBI Gene 16001] {aka A330103N21Rik, CD221, D930020L01, IGF-1R, hyft}, Relb (Relb proto-oncogene, NFKB subunit) [NCBI Gene 19698] {aka shep}, Ikbkb (inhibitor of kappaB kinase beta) [NCBI Gene 16150] {aka IKK-2, IKK-B, IKK-beta, IKK2, IKK[b], IKKbeta}, Fgfr2 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 14183] {aka Bek, Fgfr-2, Fgfr-7, Fgfr2b, Fgfr7, KGFR}, Serpinb1-ps1 (serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor, clade B, member 1, pseudogene) [NCBI Gene 282665] {aka EID, ovalbumin}, Irf1 (interferon regulatory factor 1) [NCBI Gene 16362] {aka Irf-1}, Il33 (interleukin 33) [NCBI Gene 77125] {aka 9230117N10Rik, Il-33, Il1f11, NF-HEV}, Tnfaip3 (tumor necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 3) [NCBI Gene 21929] {aka A20, Tnfip3}
- **Diseases:** autoimmune demyelinating diseases (MESH:D020278), neurological decline (MESH:D009461), stroke (MESH:D020521), oligodendrocyte death (MESH:D056784), neurological diseases (MESH:D020271), autoimmune (MESH:D001327), traumatic brain injury (MESH:D000070642), CNS damage (MESH:D002493), neurotoxicity (MESH:D020258), CAE (MESH:D020274), Autoimmune Inflammation (MESH:D007249), injury to (MESH:D014947), PPMS (MESH:D020528), tissue injury (MESH:D017695), neurological impairment (MESH:D009422), MS (MESH:D009103), Myelin Damage (MESH:D020279), axon degeneration (MESH:D009410), EAE (MESH:D004681), cytotoxic (MESH:D064420), brainstem lesions (MESH:D020295), death (MESH:D003643), Demyelination (MESH:D003711), viral infections (MESH:D014777)
- **Chemicals:** Guanabenz (MESH:D006143), Sephin1 (MESH:C000597020), tamoxifen (MESH:D013629), vitamin D (MESH:D014807), Cuprizone (MESH:D003471), lipids (MESH:D008055), eGFP (-)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], human gammaherpesvirus 4 (Epstein Barr virus, no rank) [taxon 10376]

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## References

132 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941276/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941276