Insights into Brain Cell Material Transfer to Neurons in Mice

Researchers at UC Davis have discovered how oligodendrocyte-lineage cells transfer cell material to neurons in the mouse brain, providing evidence of a coordinated nuclear interaction between these cells and neurons. This new understanding opens the door for the development of novel therapies for a range of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. The study also showed that material transfer to neurons is increased during chronic neuroinflammation, which could lead to better-targeted therapies for conditions caused by the accumulation of pathogenic proteins in neurons.