It has been discovered that there are brain cells in mice that may transfer material to neurons.

Oligodendrocyte-lineage cells have been shown to be responsible for the transfer of cell material to neurons in the mouse brain, as revealed by researchers. They have established for the first time that these cells and neurons engage in coordinated nuclear contact with one another.

Oligodendrocyte-lineage cells, which are a specific form of brain cell, were the focus of a study conducted by researchers at the University of California – Davis Health in the United States. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and revealed how this particular type of brain cell transmits cell material to neurons in the mouse brain. The findings presented by the researchers are the first unequivocal indication of coordinated nuclear contact between these cells and neurons.

According to the corresponding author Olga Chechneva, “this novel concept of material transfer to neurons opens new possibilities for understanding brain maturation and finding treatments for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease.” I am currently working as an Assistant Project Scientist in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis.

Oligodendrocyte-lineage cells are defined as the following:
Within the central nervous system is a particular kind of glial cell known as an oligodendrocyte-lineage cell. From the moment of birth onward, these cells play an essential role in ensuring the healthy development of brain circuits. Oligodendrocyte-lineage cells are responsible for myelination, which is the process of wrapping nerve axons in a protective insulating coating known as the myelin sheath. Myelination is one of the primary tasks of these cells.
The transfer mechanism is being looked into as a possible treatment for neurodegenerative illnesses.
According to the findings of the study, the exchange of substances between oligodendroglia and neurons begins to take place after birth, which corresponds to an essential stage in the development of the brain.

“I find it quite interesting that this transfer pathway might be developed throughout postnatal development. According to Chechneva, these developmental windows are extremely important for the maturation of the brain and the formation of neural networks.

Our understanding of this mechanism is fairly recent, and as a result, it raises a great deal of questions regarding the functioning of neurons and the biological significance of this mechanism to a wide variety of neurological conditions. This adds up to a very interesting situation,” Chechneva stated.

In addition to the findings described above, the investigators discovered that the rate of material transfer from oligodendroglia to neurons is accelerated in the presence of chronic neuroinflammation. This discovery opens up a potentially fruitful pathway for the development of more tailored medicines for neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, both of which are caused by the buildup of harmful proteins in neuronal cells.