For leukocyte isolation, whole brain and spinal cord was harvested, cut into small pieces and digested with 0.4 mg ml−1 Collagenase IV (9001-12-1, Sigma-Aldrich) and 0.2 mg ml−1 deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I; E1010, Luzerna) in HBSS (with Ca2+ and Mg2+; 14025-050, Gibco) for 40 min at 37 °C. The digested tissue was then mechanically dissociated using a 19-gauge needle and filtered through a 100-μm cell strainer (800100, Bioswisstec). CNS single-cell suspensions were further enriched by 30% Percoll (P4937, GE Healthcare) gradient centrifugation (1,590g, 30 min, at 4 °C, with no brakes).
To enrich for and improve oligodendrocyte viability for downstream FACS sorting and RNA isolation, CNS tissue was subjected to enzymatic digestion using papain (LS003126, Worthington) for 30 min at 37 °C and the enzymatic reaction stopped with ovomucoid trypsin inhibitor (LS003086, Worthington). Myelin debris was again removed by 30% Percoll (P4937, GE Healthcare) gradient centrifugation.