Lack of myelin improves axon survival in inflammatory lesions in the CNS

By studying axonal pathology in human multiple sclerosis and its models, we observed that myelin ensheathment itself can be detrimental for axonal survival. We hypothesize that oligodendroglial support is disrupted under inflammatory conditions, with the most severe consequences for the axons that remain physically isolated from the extracellular milieu by myelin.