Available online 17 August 2022, 104591

Phagocytosis of debris generated from myelin sheath damage in CNS disease and injury is proving to be a novel source of pathologic consequences.

Both professional and semi-professional phagocytes participate in the clearance of myelin debris in the CNS.

Myelin debris clearance is a prerequisite for healing and neurodegeneration, however, the myelin debris engulfed by different cells can result in different pathological consequences.

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders and trauma involving changes to the neuronal myelin sheath have long been a topic of great interest. One common pathological change in these diseases is the generation of myelin debris resulting from the breakdown of the myelin sheath. Myelin debris contains many inflammatory and neurotoxic factors that inhibit remyelination and make its clearance a prerequisite for healing in CNS disorders. Many professional and semiprofessional phagocytes participate in the clearance of myelin debris in the CNS. These cells use various mechanisms for the uptake of myelin debris, and each cell type produces its own unique set of pathologic consequences resulting from the debris uptake. Examining these cells’ phagocytosis of myelin debris will contribute to a more complete understanding of CNS disease pathogenesis and help us conceptualize how the necessary clearance of myelin debris must be balanced with the detrimental consequences brought about by its clearance.

Myelin debris

phagocytosis

CNS

neurodegeneration

CNS trauma

inflammation

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.