A Glial Spin on Neurotrophins

Abstract
Glial cells in the nervous system are responsible for ensheathing the axons of neurons in myelin. However, the positive and negative signals regulating myelination remain obscure. In a Perspective, Hempstead and Salzer discuss new work (Cosgaya et al.) that identifies the neurotrophin BDNF and its receptor p75 as positive modulators of myelination by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system.