Abstract

Oligodendrocytes support neuronal function by increasing the speed and fidelity of conduction and providing metabolites for axons. Lack of myelination causes severe developmental deficits, while damage to myelin can cause inflammation, dysfunction and neuronal degeneration. Oligodendrocyte lineage cells express genes associated with neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and degenerative conditions further supporting their role in neuronal dysfunction and pathology.

The symposium will explore current studies on molecular checkpoints and roadblocks in myelinating oligodendrocyte formation. Featuring speakers from three countries at different career stages, it highlights their contributions to glial biology, stem cell research, and single-cell analysis technologies.

The talks will focus on oligodendrocyte cell heterogeneity, drivers of cell state changes, and roadblocks to efficient differentiation into myelin-forming cells in the rodent and human brain. Presentations will also discuss how these findings could advance new oligodendrocyte-directed therapeutics.

The symposium provides a comprehensive view of the specification program of oligodendrocyte lineage cells, emphasizing their heterogeneity through epigenetic and transcriptome analyses. It will examine how transcription factors and extracellular signals influence the state and function of progenitor cells, as well as their differentiation into myelinating cells. The discussions will integrate insights into oligodendrogenesis during development and disease, with implications for tissue repair and future directions in translational and basic research.