New Trends in Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Neuro-Glial Communication—Neural Circuit Plasticity, Metabolism & Energy, and Immune Responses

Oligodendrocyte biology is at the forefront of current neuroscience, with increasing recognition of the complex roles these glial cells play beyond myelination in the central nervous system. Recent advances have uncovered novel aspects of oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) differentiation and the multifaceted communication between oligodendrocytes, neurons, and other glial cell types. This neuro-glial interplay has emerged as a critical determinant of neural circuit formation, brain plasticity, energy metabolism, and the orchestration of immune responses within the CNS. While foundational studies have elucidated molecular regulators such as protein arginine methyltransferases and cell-intrinsic pathways, significant gaps remain in our understanding of how these processes are integrated with metabolic and immunological networks across both health and disease. There is ongoing debate about the role of glial cells in adaptive versus maladaptive brain responses, particularly in stress, neuropsychiatric disorders, and neurodegeneration, underscoring the need for a holistic exploration of these mechanisms.This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive platform for investigating the emerging roles and regulatory crosstalk of oligodendrocytes in neural circuit plasticity, energy homeostasis, and immune modulation. Central questions include how intracellular signaling, epigenetic regulation, metabolic flux, and microenvironmental cues shape oligodendrocyte development and maturation; how these cells influence, and are influenced by, neurons and other glia; and the impact of these interactions on CNS resilience and pathology. By unifying cellular, molecular, and systems-level investigations, this topic seeks to disentangle the mechanisms that enable oligodendrocytes to integrate metabolic and immune functions with their classical roles, ultimately informing therapeutic strategies for conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to major depressive disorder.To gather further insights in the broad and interconnected field of oligodendrocyte differentiation and neuro-glial communication, with particular attention to neural circuit plasticity, metabolism, energy balance, and immune responses, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Novel intrinsic and extrinsic regulators of OPC differentiation and maturation• Molecular and metabolic pathways linking oligodendrocytes with neuronal plasticity• Crosstalk between glial cells (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes) in CNS circuit remodeling• Mechanisms of energy metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics in oligodendroglia• Oligodendrocyte responses to inflammatory and immune stimuli in health and disease• Epigenetic and transcriptional control of myelin gene expression• Implications of oligodendrocyte dysfunction for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders• Innovative in vitro and in vivo models for studying glia-neuron interactions Topic editors: Shingo Miyata, Steven Petratos Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79933/new-trends-in-oligodendrocyte-differentiation-and-neuro-glial-communication-neural-circuit-plasticity-metabolism-energy-and-immune-responses