White Matter and Neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s Dementia
1
Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
2
Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
3
Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
4
Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2020, 25(3), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030503
Received: 27 December 2019
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Revised: 20 January 2020
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Accepted: 21 January 2020
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Published: 23 January 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuroprotective Agents to Treat Dementias)
Myelin is the main component of the white matter of the central nervous system (CNS), allowing the proper electrical function of the neurons by ensheathing and insulating the axons. The extensive use of magnetic resonance imaging has highlighted the white matter alterations in Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, alterations which are early, extended, and regionally selective. Given that the white matter turnover is considerable in the adulthood, and that myelin repair is currently recognized as being the only true reparative capability of the mature CNS, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), the cells that differentiate in oligodendrocyte, responsible for myelin formation and repair, are regarded as a potential target for neuroprotection. In this review, several aspects of the OPC biology are reviewed. The histology and functional role of OPCs in the neurovascular-neuroglial unit as described in preclinical and clinical studies on AD is discussed, such as the OPC vulnerability to hypoxia-ischemia, neuroinflammation, and amyloid deposition. Finally, the position of OPCs in drug discovery strategies for dementia is discussed.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Lorenzini, L.; Fernandez, M.; Baldassarro, V.A.; Bighinati, A.; Giuliani, A.; Calzà, L.; Giardino, L. White Matter and Neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s Dementia. Molecules 2020, 25, 503. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030503
AMA Style
Lorenzini L, Fernandez M, Baldassarro VA, Bighinati A, Giuliani A, Calzà L, Giardino L. White Matter and Neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s Dementia. Molecules. 2020; 25(3):503. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030503
Chicago/Turabian StyleLorenzini, Luca, Mercedes Fernandez, Vito Antonio Baldassarro, Andrea Bighinati, Alessandro Giuliani, Laura Calzà, and Luciana Giardino. 2020. "White Matter and Neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s Dementia" Molecules 25, no. 3: 503. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030503
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