Prof. Dr. Ueli Suter
Neuron-Glia Interactions & Myelination
Glia cells, oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, wrap their plasma membranes around axons to organize myelinated fibers, enabling rapid conduction. Development, maintenance and repair of such fibers depend on highly regulated communications between neurons, glia cells, and the specific environment. Disturbances of this exquisitely balanced signaling system contribute to several neurological disorders such as neuropathies and multiple sclerosis. We study the fundamental mechanisms that regulate neuron-glia interactions and the individual roles of the cell types involved in development, myelination, neural maintenance, plasticity, repair, and disease.