Biochemical Mechanisms of Demyelination

Diphtheria toxin, inorganic lead, and tellurium are considered toxicants that cause demyelination through injury to the myelinating cell. The mechanism of action of diphtheria toxin was discussed in Section 30.1. The mechanism by which inorganic lead causes Schwann cell injury and demyelination is not well understood, but may be related to uncoupling or inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation secondary to interference of lead with some aspect of ion transport across the mitochondrial membrane. 

The authors gratefully acknowledge the important contribution of the late Dr. Pierre Morell, to this chapter. Dr. Morell co-authored this chapter in previous editions of this textbook. 

and Lawrenson, J. G. The blood-nerve barrier Enzymes, transporters and receptors— a comparison with the blood-brain barrier. Brain Res Bull. 52,1-12, 2000. 

Axonal transport of membranous and nonmembranous cargoes A unified perspective. J. Cell Biol. 160, 817-821, 2003. 

Coleman, M. Axonal degeneration mechanisms Commonality and diversity. Nat. Rev. 

---