SKAP2 as a new regulator of oligodendroglial migration and myelin sheath formation

Abstract Oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPC) are highly proliferative and migratory bipolar cells, which differentiate into complex myelin forming and axon ensheathing mature oligodendrocytes during myelination. Recent studies indicate that the oligodendroglial cell population is heterogeneous on transcriptional and functional level depending on the location in the CNS. Here, we compared intrinsic properties of OPC from spinal cord and brain on functional and transcriptional level. Spinal cord OPC demonstrated increased migration as well as differentiation capacity. Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of several genes between both OPC populations. In spinal cord OPC we confirmed upregulation of SKAP2, a cytoplasmatic adaptor protein known for its implication in cytoskeletal remodelling and migration in other cell types. Recent findings suggest that actin dynamics determine not only oligodendroglial migration, but also differentiation: Whereas actin polymerization is important for process extension, actin destabilization and depolymerization is required for myelin sheath formation. Downregulation or complete lack of SKAP2 in OPC resulted in reduced migration and impaired morphological maturation in oligodendrocytes. In contrast, overexpression of SKAP2 as well as constitutively active SKAP2 increased OPC migration suggesting that SKAP2 function is dependent on activation by phosphorylation. Furthermore, lack of SKAP2 enhanced the positive effect on OPC migration after integrin activation suggesting that SKAP2 acts as modulator of integrin dependent migration. In summary, we demonstrate the presence of intrinsic differences between spinal cord and brain OPC and identified SKAP2 as a new regulator of oligodendroglial migration and sheath formation. Significance statement OPC play an important role in many still incurable diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, leukodystrophies or neurodegenerative diseases. Their heterogeneity in different CNS regions has recently been identified. Here, we observed increased migration and differentiation capabilities of OPC isolated from the spinal cord compared to brain OPC and confirmed differences in the transcriptome between these two cell populations. Furthermore, we identified SKAP2 as potential modulator of actin dynamics in oligodendrocytes. Whereas knockdown or lack of SKAP2 impairs migration and myelin sheath formation in mouse and human oligodendrocytes, overexpression of wildtype or constitutively active SKAP2 enhances the migratory capacity of murine oligodendrocytes. In summary, we present SKAP2 as modulator of cytoskeletal dynamics regulating OPC migration, differentiation and myelin sheath formation.