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Citations to this article

Oligodendroglia: metabolic supporters of neurons
Thomas Philips, Jeffrey D. Rothstein
Thomas Philips, Jeffrey D. Rothstein
Published September 1, 2017
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2017;127(9):3271-3280. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI90610.
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Review Series Article has an altmetric score of 13

Oligodendroglia: metabolic supporters of neurons

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Abstract

Oligodendrocytes are glial cells that populate the entire CNS after they have differentiated from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. From birth onward, oligodendrocytes initiate wrapping of neuronal axons with a multilamellar lipid structure called myelin. Apart from their well-established function in action potential propagation, more recent data indicate that oligodendrocytes are essential for providing metabolic support to neurons. Oligodendrocytes transfer energy metabolites to neurons through cytoplasmic “myelinic” channels and monocarboxylate transporters, which allow for the fast delivery of short-carbon-chain energy metabolites like pyruvate and lactate to neurons. These substrates are metabolized and contribute to ATP synthesis in neurons. This Review will discuss our current understanding of this metabolic supportive function of oligodendrocytes and its potential impact in human neurodegenerative disease and related animal models.

Authors

Thomas Philips, Jeffrey D. Rothstein

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Total citations by year

Year: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 Total
Citations: 16 24 21 33 33 23 10 10 1 171
Citation information
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Citations to this article in year 2025 (16)

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Berger PK, Bansal R, Sawardekar S, Monk C, Peterson BS
Nutrients 2025
Developmental axon diameter growth of central nervous system axons does not depend on ensheathment or myelination by oligodendrocytes
Bin JM, Emberley K, Buscham TJ, Eichel-Vogel MA, Doan RA, Steyer AM, Nolan MF, Möbius W, Monk KR, Werner HB, Emery B, Lyons DA
bioRxiv 2025
GCN2-Mediated eIF2α Phosphorylation Is Required for Central Nervous System Remyelination
Falcón P, Brito Á, Escandón M, Roa JF, Martínez NW, Tapia-Godoy A, Farfán P, Matus S
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2025
Del Río Hortega’s insights into oligodendrocytes: recent advances in subtype characterization and functional roles in axonal support and disease
López-Muguruza E, Peiró-Moreno C, Pérez-Cerdá F, Matute C, Ruiz A
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ACS Chemical Neuroscience 2025
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Gu X, Zhu F, Gao P, Shen Y, Lu L
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Oligodendrocyte arrangement, identification and morphology in the developing superior olivary complex
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Are Oligodendrocytes the Culprits or Victims in Alzheimer’s Disease
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Oligodendrocyte and Myelin Pathophysiology in Multiple Sclerosis.
López-Muguruza E, Peiró-Moreno C, Ruiz A, Matute C
Advances in neurobiology 2025
Is age-related myelinodegenerative change an initial risk factor of neurodegenerative diseases?
Wu S, Chen J
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Cryopreservation of Bulk-Produced Primary Rat Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells
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Bio-protocol 2025

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