Cited by 1,523Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsMultiple Sclerosis Research StudiesMitochondrial Function and Pathology

Glycolytic oligodendrocytes maintain myelin and long-term axonal integrity

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Fünfschilling, Ursula, Supplie, Lotti M., Mahad, Don, Boretius, Susann, Saab, Aiman S., Edgar, Julia, Brinkmann, Bastian G., Kassmann, Celia M. +11 more·2012·Nature

Abstract

Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming glial cells of the central nervous system, maintain long-term axonal integrity. However, the underlying support mechanisms are not understood. Here we identify a metabolic component of axon-glia interactions by generating conditional Cox10 (protoheme IX farnesyltransferase) mutant mice, in which oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells fail to assemble stable mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX, also known as mitochondrial complex IV). In the peripheral nervous system, Cox10 conditional mutants exhibit severe neuropathy with dysmyelination, abnormal Remak bundles, muscle atrophy and paralysis. Notably, perturbing mitochondrial respiration did not cause glial cell death. In the adult central nervous system, we found no signs of demyelination, axonal degeneration or secondary inflammation. Unlike cultured oligodendrocytes, which are sensitive to COX inhibitors, post-myelination oligodendrocytes survive well in the absence of COX activity. More importantly, by in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy, brain lactate concentrations in mutants were increased compared with controls, but were detectable only in mice exposed to volatile anaesthetics. This indicates that aerobic glycolysis products derived from oligodendrocytes are rapidly metabolized within white matter tracts. Because myelinated axons can use lactate when energy-deprived, our findings suggest a model in which axon-glia metabolic coupling serves a physiological function.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature11007

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  • There is so far no experimental approach to the question of whether oligodendrocytes release lactate or pyruvate for the support of axonal energy metabolism.

    “However, there is so far no experimental approach to the question of whether oligodendrocytes release lactate or pyruvate (Fünfschilling et al., 2012) for the support of axonal energy metabolism.”

    From Downregulated expression of lactate dehydrogenase in adult oligodendrocytes and its implication for the transfer of glycolysis products to axons (2024) · cites this paper as Fünfschilling et al., 2012

    The paper reports an experimental approach to this question: in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy measured increased lactate in Cox10 mutant brains, and the authors interpret the findings as compatible with oligodendroglial lactate release and use by other cells (passage [2], page unavailable). They also report an in vitro test showing that myelinated axons metabolize glial lactate. These experiments do not directly establish whether oligodendrocytes release lactate or pyruvate to support axons, but they contradict the claim that there was no experimental approach to the question. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • Remyelination is a regenerative process of the adult CNS that restores saltatory impulse conduction and trophic support to axons.

    “Remyelination is a crucial regenerative process in demyelinating diseases, limiting persisting damage to the CNS. It restores saltatory nerve conduction and ensures trophic support of axons.”

    From BCAS1-positive oligodendrocytes enable efficient cortical remyelination in multiple sclerosis (2025) · cites this paper as [3]

    The paper’s Abstract describes oligodendrocyte support of long-term axonal integrity and proposes metabolic support from glia to myelinated axons. It discusses remyelination only as an unlikely explanation for its findings in adult mutant mice; it does not show that remyelination restores saltatory conduction or trophic support in demyelinating disease. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Oligodendrocytes with impaired oxidative phosphorylation instead boost aerobic glycolysis, as indicated by increased lactate levels.

    “Oligodendrocytes with impaired oxidative phosphorylation instead boost aerobic glycolysis, as indicated by increased lactate levels [127].”

    From Oligodendrocyte death and myelin loss in the cuprizone model: an updated overview of the intrinsic and extrinsic causes of cuprizone demyelination (2022) · cites this paper as [127]

    The paper reports that Cox10-mutant oligodendrocytes with impaired mitochondrial respiration appear to rely on increased glycolysis, and mutant brains had higher lactate than controls. The cited passage specifies that the lactate increase was detectable only under isoflurane anaesthesia, a condition the claim omits. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • This shift of normal myelin turnover to lipid-based ATP generation allows OLs to share more glucose-derived pyruvate/lactate with axons to support ATP generation and prevent axon degeneration.

    “This shift of normal myelin turnover to lipid-based ATP generation allows OLs to share more glucose-derived pyruvate/lactate with the axons to support ATP generation and prevent axon degeneration [278,280].”

    From Revisiting the Pathogenesis of X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (2025) · cites this paper as [280]

    The Abstract proposes that oligodendrocytes supply glycolysis-derived pyruvate and lactate to energy-deprived axons, and reports no axonal degeneration in adult CNS Cox10 mutants. It does not describe normal myelin turnover being shifted to lipid-based ATP generation, or establish that this shift increases metabolite sharing and prevents degeneration. The metabolic-sharing mechanism is presented as a model, not a demonstrated causal chain. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Glycolytic oligodendrocytes provide direct metabolic support to axons via non-compacted cytoplasmic channels in myelin and monocarboxylate transporters, which preserves functional integrity and axon survival.

    “This led to a working model of glycolytic oligodendrocytes providing direct metabolic support to axons via non-compacted cytoplasmic channels in myelin and monocarboxylate transporters, which preserves functional integrity and axon survival (Amaral et al., 2013;Fünfschilling et al., 2012;Lee et al., 2012).”

    From Downregulated expression of lactate dehydrogenase in adult oligodendrocytes and its implication for the transfer of glycolysis products to axons (2024) · cites this paper as Fünfschilling et al., 2012

    The paper proposes a model in which oligodendrocyte glycolysis supplies metabolites to axons, and it identifies MCT1 in myelin and MCT2 in myelinated axons (indexed section labelled Abstract; page unavailable). It also reports maintenance of myelin and axons in adult CNS mutants. Our copy does not describe transport via non-compacted cytoplasmic channels, so that specific route is not supported by this source. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Fünfschilling, U., Supplie, L. M., Mahad, D., Boretius, S., Saab, A. S., Edgar, J., Brinkmann, B. G., Kassmann, C. M., Tzvetanova, I. D., Möbius, W., Diaz, F., Meijer, D., Suter, U., Hamprecht, B., Sereda, M. W., Moraes, C. T., Frahm, J., Goebbels, S., & Nave, K.-A.
Affiliations
  • Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine (DE)
  • Max Planck Society (DE)
  • Newcastle University (GB)
  • Erasmus MC (NL)
  • ETH Zurich (CH)
  • University of Miami (US)
Corresponding author
Nave, Klaus-Armin
Venue
Nature
Published
2012-04-29
Volume
485
Issue
7399
Pages
517-521
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2085029391
Cited by
1,523
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 121 · 2025: 120 · 2024: 127 · 2023: 107 · 2022: 125 · 2021: 142 · 2020: 121 · 2019: 107 · 2018: 91 · 2017: 128 · 2016: 95 · 2015: 93 · 2014: 64 · 2013: 65 · 2012: 13
FWCI
25.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (submittedVersion)
  • GRO (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Wellcome Trust (078415)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
Keywords
oligodendrocytes, myelination, aerobic glycolysis, lactate, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, COX10, axonal integrity, demyelination, Schwann cells, white matter, brain lactate, mitochondrial respiration
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Axons, Brain, Cell Survival, Electron Transport Complex IV, Demyelinating Diseases, Glycolysis, Membrane Proteins, Mitochondria, Myelin Sheath, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Oligodendroglia, Protons, Schwann Cells, Time Factors, Cell Respiration, Lactic Acid, Alkyl and Aryl Transferases, Mutant Proteins, Mice

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