Figure 1.

Functions of oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage cells in the adult central nervous system (CNS). Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) become mature and sustain myelination and remyelination during development or in response to injury (A). Mature myelinating OLs release lactate produced by glycolysis into the periaxonal space through monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1. Neurons can in turn take up lactate through the MCT2 to support mitochondrial ATP synthesis (B). Finally, OPCs in the disease state are also known to express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II and several cytokines which enable them to modulate T-cells and microglia, thus affecting the immune response (C).