Neurotransmitter-triggered transfer of exosomes mediates oligodendrocyte-neuron communication.

Reciprocal interactions between neurons and oligodendrocytes are not only crucial for myelination, but also for long-term survival of axons. Degeneration of axons occurs in several human myelin diseases, however the molecular mechanisms of axon-glia communication maintaining axon integrity are poorly understood. Here, we describe the signal-mediated transfer of exosomes from oligodendrocytes to neurons. These endosome-derived vesicles are secreted by oligodendrocytes and carry specific protein and RNA cargo. We show that activity-dependent release of the neurotransmitter glutamate triggers oligodendroglial exosome secretion mediated by Ca²âº entry through oligodendroglial NMDA and AMPA receptors. In turn, neurons internalize the released exosomes by endocytosis. Injection of oligodendroglia-derived exosomes into the mouse brain results in functional retrieval of exosome cargo in neurons. Supply of cultured neurons with oligodendroglial exosomes improves neuronal viability under conditions of cell stress. These findings indicate that oligodendroglial exosomes participate in a novel mode of bidirectional neuron-glia communication contributing to neuronal integrity.

Transport of the major myelin proteolipid protein is directed by VAMP3 and VAMP7.

CNS myelination by oligodendrocytes requires directed transport of myelin membrane components and a timely and spatially controlled membrane expansion. In this study, we show the functional involvement of the R-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (R-SNARE) proteins VAMP3/cellubrevin and VAMP7/TI-VAMP in myelin membrane trafficking. VAMP3 and VAMP7 colocalize with the major myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) in recycling endosomes and late endosomes/lysosomes, respectively. Interference with VAMP3 or VAMP7 function using small interfering RNA-mediated silencing and exogenous expression of dominant-negative proteins diminished transport of PLP to the oligodendroglial cell surface. In addition, the association of PLP with myelin-like membranes produced by oligodendrocytes cocultured with cortical neurons was reduced. We furthermore identified Syntaxin-4 and Syntaxin-3 as prime acceptor Q-SNAREs of VAMP3 and VAMP7, respectively. Analysis of VAMP3-deficient mice revealed no myelination defects. Interestingly, AP-3δ-deficient mocha mice, which suffer from impaired secretion of lysosome-related organelles and missorting of VAMP7, exhibit a mild dysmyelination characterized by reduced levels of select myelin proteins, including PLP. We conclude that PLP reaches the cell surface via at least two trafficking pathways with distinct regulations: (1) VAMP3 mediates fusion of recycling endosome-derived vesicles with the oligodendroglial plasma membrane in the course of the secretory pathway; (2) VAMP7 controls exocytosis of PLP from late endosomal/lysosomal organelles as part of a transcytosis pathway. Our in vivo data suggest that exocytosis of lysosome-related organelles controlled by VAMP7 contributes to myelin biogenesis by delivering cargo to the myelin membrane.