Consequences and mechanisms of myelin debris uptake and processing by cells in the central nervous system

•Phagocytosis of debris generated from myelin sheath damage in CNS disease and injury is proving to be a novel source of pathologic consequences.•Both professional and semi-professional phagocytes participate in the clearance of myelin debris in the CNS.•Myelin debris clearance is a prerequisite for healing and neurodegeneration, however, the myelin debris engulfed by different cells can result in different pathological consequences.