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PMID: 16367798 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

NG2-expressing cells as oligodendrocyte progenitors in the normal and demyelinated adult central nervous system.

Journal of anatomy ·Vol. 207 ·No. 6 ·2005-12-00 ·Pages 707-16

Polito A, Reynolds R

Abstract

The mammalian adult central nervous system (CNS) is known to respond rapidly to demyelinating insults by regenerating oligodendrocytes for remyelination from a dividing precursor population. A widespread population of cells exists within the adult CNS that is thought to belong to the oligodendrocyte lineage, but which do not express proteins characteristic of mature myelinating oligodendrocytes, such as myelin basic protein (MBP) and 2,3-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase (CNP). Instead, these cells have phenotypic characteristics of a more immature stage of the oligodendrocyte lineage. They express the NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan, in addition to O4 and the platelet-derived growth factor alpha-receptor, all widely accepted as markers for oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) throughout development. However, NG2+ cells residing in the adult CNS do not resemble embryonic or neonatal NG2+ cells in terms of their morphology or proliferation characteristics, but instead represent a unique type of glial cell that has the ability to react rapidly to CNS damage. In this review, we present the evidence that adult NG2+ cells are part of the oligodendrocyte lineage and are capable of giving rise to new oligodendrocytes under both normal and demyelinating conditions. We also review the literature that these cells may have multiple functional roles within the adult CNS, notwithstanding their primary role as OPCs.

MeSH Terms
Animals Antigens/metabolism Brain/cytology,metabolism,pathology Cell Proliferation Demyelinating Diseases/metabolism,pathology Humans Nerve Regeneration Oligodendroglia/cytology,metabolism,pathology Proteoglycans/metabolism Stem Cells/cytology,metabolism
Chemicals
Antigens Proteoglycans chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Polito Annabella
Department of Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience & Mental Health, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, London, UK.
Reynolds Richard
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of anatomy
Abbr.
J Anat
ISSN
0021-8782
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-7580.2005.00454.x
Published
2005-12-00
Pages
707-16
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0137162
PMCID
PMC1571577
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2005.00454.x PMC Full Text View journal details
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