Cited by 599Multiple Sclerosis Research StudiesNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Inefficient clearance of myelin debris by microglia impairs remyelinating processes

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Lampron, Antoine, Larochelle, Antoine, Laflamme, Nathalie, Préfontaine, Paul, Plante, Marie-Michèle, Sánchez, Maria Gabriela, Yong, V. Wee, Stys, Peter K. +2 more·2015·Journal of Experimental Medicine

Abstract

An imbalance between remyelinating and demyelinating rates underlies degenerative processes in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. An optimal therapeutic strategy would be to stimulate remyelination while limiting demyelination. Although accumulation of myelin debris impairs remyelination, the mechanisms regulating the clearance of such debris by mononuclear phagocytic cells are poorly understood. We demonstrate that after cuprizone intoxication, CCR2-dependent infiltration of mouse bone marrow-derived cells is abundant in demyelinating areas, but that these cells do not impact demyelination. However, in CX3CR1-deficient mice, the clearance of myelin debris by microglia was blocked greatly, affecting the integrity of the axon and myelin sheaths and thus preventing proper remyelination. These results highlight the crucial role played by CX3CR1 in myelin removal and show that there can be no efficient remyelination after a primary demyelinating insult if myelin clearance by microglia is impaired.

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Crossref · 10.1084/jem.20141656

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  • Microglia are critically involved in ensuring the proper containment and removal of neurotoxic material in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.

    “Mounting evidence suggests that microglia, which are the professional phagocytes of the CNS, are critically involved in ensuring the proper containment and removal of neurotoxic material in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis (Condello et al., 2015; Hickman et al., 2018; Lampron et al., 2015).”

    From SYK coordinates neuroprotective microglial responses in neurodegenerative disease (2022) · cites this paper as Lampron et al., 2015

    The Discussion (page not provided) says microglia must clear degenerate myelin from affected axons for efficient remyelination, supporting their importance in debris removal. The paper addresses demyelinating disease specifically; it does not establish a general role in containing neurotoxic material across neurodegenerative diseases. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Clearance of myelin debris is believed to be crucial for remyelination and recovery.

    “Cessation of cuprizone leads to subsequent remyelination, and clearance of myelin debris is believed to be crucial for remyelination and recovery [5,6].”

    From Multifaceted response of microglia in the cuprizone model of demyelination (2026) · cites this paper as [5]

    The Discussion reports that impaired microglial clearance left myelin debris in place and led to inefficient remyelination, supporting the remyelination part of the claim. It says that the long-term consequences for neurological deficits remain to be studied, so recovery beyond remyelination is not established by this paper. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Microglia clear myelin debris and secrete trophic factors to promote oligodendrocyte growth and survival.

    “Microglia also clear myelin debris, and secrete trophic factors to promote oligodendrocyte growth and survival [5,11,12].”

    From Multifaceted response of microglia in the cuprizone model of demyelination (2026) · cites this paper as [5]

    The Abstract and Discussion (page unavailable) support microglial clearance of myelin debris, and the Results link impaired clearance with reduced oligodendrocyte precursor recruitment and proliferation. The Results also report reduced IGF-1 staining, but our copy does not establish that microglia secrete trophic factors to promote oligodendrocyte growth and survival. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Microglial clearance of myelin debris continues following cuprizone withdrawal.

    “indicating that microglial clearance of myelin debris continues following cuprizone withdrawal, as reported in previous studies [3,5].”

    From Multifaceted response of microglia in the cuprizone model of demyelination (2026) · cites this paper as [5]

    The Results (‘Aberrant myelin patterns in CX3CR1−/− mice’; page unavailable) describe myelin debris inside microglia after 3 and 5 weeks of cuprizone treatment. The paper then examines remyelination after withdrawal, but the passages do not establish that microglia continue clearing debris after withdrawal. The timing asserted in the claim is therefore unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Accumulation of debris within lesions inhibits oligodendrocyte recruitment and differentiation and delays recovery/remyelination.

    “Accumulation of debris within lesions has been demonstrated to inhibit oligodendrocyte recruitment and differentiation (18, 41, 44) and, thus, delay recovery/remyelination.”

    From Microglia depletion exacerbates demyelination and impairs remyelination in a neurotropic coronavirus infection (2020) · cites this paper as [44]

    The Results (page not provided) report deficient oligodendrocyte precursor cell recruitment in CX3CR1-deficient mice. The Discussion says myelin debris inhibits precursor differentiation, citing earlier work, and links impaired clearance to aberrant remyelination. It does not demonstrate delayed remyelination: staining showed remyelination at a similar extent to wild-type mice. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Lampron, A., Larochelle, A., Laflamme, N., Préfontaine, P., Plante, M.-M., Sánchez, M. G., Yong, V. W., Stys, P. K., Tremblay, M.-È., & Rivest, S.
Affiliations
  • Université Laval (CA)
  • University of Calgary (CA)
Corresponding author
Rivest, Serge
Venue
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Published
2015-03-16
Volume
212
Issue
4
Pages
481-495
ISSN
  • 0022-1007 (ISSN-L)
  • 1540-9538
OpenAlex
W2096423240
Cited by
595
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 86 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 11
FWCI
32.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-sa
Locations
  • The Journal of Experimental Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Keywords
remyelination, myelin debris clearance, microglia, CX3CR1, CCR2, demyelination, multiple sclerosis, cuprizone, bone marrow-derived cells, axon integrity
MeSH terms
CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1, Animals, Axons, Bone Marrow Cells, Demyelinating Diseases, Myelin Sheath, Phagocytes, Microglia, Mice, Knockout, Receptors, Chemokine, Mice, Receptors, CCR2

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