Autophagy collaborates with apoptosis pathways to control myelination specificity and function

Abstract

SUMMARYOligodendrocytes are the sole myelin producing cells in the central nervous system. Oligodendrocyte numbers are tightly controlled across diverse brain regions to match local axon type and number, but the underlying mechanisms and functional significance remain unclear. Here, we show that autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved cellular process that promotes cell survival under canonical settings, elicits premyelinating oligodendrocyte apoptosis during development and regulates critical aspects of nerve pulse propagation. Autophagy flux is increased in premyelinating oligodendrocytes, and its genetic blockage causes ectopic oligodendrocyte survival throughout the entire brain. Autophagy acts in the TFEB-Bax/Bak pathway and elevatesPUMAmRNA levels to trigger premyelinating oligodendrocyte apoptosis cell-autonomously. Autophagy continuously functions in the myelinating oligodendrocytes to limit myelin sheath numbers and fine-tune nerve pulse propagation. Our results providein vivoevidence showing that autophagy promotes apoptosis in mammalian cells under physiological conditions and reveal key intrinsic mechanisms governing oligodendrocyte number.HIGHLIGHTSAutophagy flux increases in the premyelinating and myelinating oligodendrocytesAutophagy promotes premyelinating oligodendrocyte (pre-OL) apoptosis to control myelination location and timingAutophagy acts in the TFEB-PUMA-Bax/Bak pathway and elevatesPUMAmRNA levels to determine pre-OL fateAutophagy continuously functions in the myelinating oligodendrocytes to limit myelin sheath thickness and finetune nerve pulse propagation