Astrocyte Differentiation from Oligodendrocyte Precursors

摘要: Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are found not only in the developing central nervous system (CNS) but also exist abundantly and uniformly throughout mature CNS. They identified vivo by expression of NG2 (Cspg4 gene product) or alpha receptor for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFRα) antigenically functionally distinct from neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, neural stem cells. The majority OPCs initially arise committed neuroepithelial ventral germinal zone subsequently migrate out proliferate parenchyma. A different subset later-born originates dorsal zones. While initial culture studies suggested that behave as bipotential glial endowed with ability to differentiate into oligodendrocytes more recent genetic fate-mapping have revealed postnatal CNS prenatal oligodendrocyte lineage, exception a small subpopulation embryonic forebrain generates protoplasmic astrocytes. These observations provide basis future molecular analyses on mechanisms restrict fate OPCs.